UNAMID DEPLOYMENT UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000142 DEPT FOR AF A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AF/C, IO ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: UNAMID DEPLOYMENT UPDATE REFS: A) KHARTOUM 89 B) 08 KHARTOUM 1810 C) 08 KHARTOUM 1726 D) 08 KHARTOUM 1694 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: As of January 29 the total number of UNAMID military personnel was 12,540, or just over 64 percent of the total authorized force strength. UNAMID senior staff agree that the deployment goal is impossible to secure by Mabch 31. In fact, UNAMID's shipping pipeline may be empty within 90 days if DPKO does not demand load lists for upcoming deployments from TCCs. Movement of Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) has not yet been affected by recent hostilities near Muhajariya and El Fasher between JEM rebels and the GOS. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Between January 25 and 29 Poloff spoke with the following UNAMID officials: Col. Noddy Stafford, Chief of Military Plans; Lt. Col. Andrew Moeti, Staff Officer for Operational Plans; Tony Harvey, Staff Officer for Operational Plans; Col. Hussein Al Hasan, Formed Police Unit (FPU) Coordination Officer; Tony Mundell, JLOC Supervisor; and Mostasem Atoum, FPU Coordinator. ¶3. (SBU) Stafford reported that as of January 29 the total number of UNAMID military personnel was 12,540, or just over 64 percent of the total authorized force strength. UNAMID senior staff agree that reaching the 90 percent deployment by March 31 will be impossible, and there is strong resistance in the mission to bring in troops without their equipment. Moeti is concerned that UNAMID's shipping pipeline will run dry within 90 days and Stafford voiced concern that load lists promised by TCCs due to deploy in early 2009 continue to be delayed. Lists for Ethiopian Battalion 2, Senegalese Battalion 2, Burkina Faso 1, Thailand Battalion 1, and Tanzania Battalion 1 have not been submitted to the UN by those countries. Stafford urged that DPKO be pressured to demand the load lists. ¶4. (SBU) Airfield operations in El Geneina continue to be problematic. While the condition of the new runway is good according to UNAMID, the new runway isn't yet on the list approved by the Sudanese Civil Aviation Association (SCAA) so it cannot be used by UNAMID. UNAMID is discussing the approvah with the SCAA and hopes to have the matter resolved within a week. UNAMID will then be able to move equipment via IL 76, as the new runway is much longer than the runway at the old airport. Ethiopian Attack Helicopter Company -------------- ¶5. (SBU) UNAMID is currently AttemPting to d`termine The best location at which to base the incoming Ethiopian Attack Helicopter Company. Stafford and his staff agree that the optimum permanent base would be in Nyala with two Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Zalingei and El Fasher for flexibility of movement. Aviation experts must still visit the proposed sites before a decision is made. The units are not expected to arrive before May. COE Movement -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Recent hostilities between JEM and SAF near Muhajeriya in South Darfur and outside of El Fasher in North Darfur halted UNAMID air and ground operations near the affected cities for 48 hours, but did not yet significantly hinder movement of COE. More than 90 percent of all equipMent has been received by the following military units: Chinese Engineers--Nyala Egyptian Engineers--El Fasher Egypian B!ttalion--Um Kadada Egyptian Transport Company--Nyala Bangladesh Multi-Role Logistics Unit--Nyala ¶7. (SBU) Equipment is moving smoothly for the rest of the battalions; most equipment has been moved or is currently loaded on trucks or trains awaiting GoS escort. Only the Nigerian Level II hospital currently is experiencing a delay. Howeve2, this movement should be complete within a week. Priority of movement continues to beQ 1) Nigerian Level II hospital; 2) Ethiopian Infantry APCs; 3) Ethiopian COE; 4) Nigerian FPU COE; 5) Ethiopian COE. FPU Update -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Five Formed Police Units (FPUs) are currently in Darfur with a total of 700 police officers. Phe Indonesian FPU is located in Sector North, the Bangladeshi and Nepalese FPUs are in Sector South, and the two Nigerian FPUs are located in Sector West. The two new Nigerian FPUs are currently in El Geneina, but the Nigerian FPU 2 completed its advance party ppeparations and is ready to send theremaining 100 officers to Zalingei. The Nigerian FPU 3 will KHARTOUM 00000142 002 OF 002 arrive in July and will deploy to Nertiti, Sector West. T(e COE for these FPUs is reportedly moving well. Incoming FPU Schedule -------------- February The Egyptian FPUs 1 and 2 are scheduled to arrive hn mid-February in Graida, Sector Souph, but reportedly have been delayed by the Egyptian government pending the outcome of the ICC decision on a Bashir arrest warrant (acaording to UNAMID). The Egyptians are reportedly concerned the FPUs might have to re-deployed or removed quickly if the GoS takes action against UNAMID. The Jordanian FPU 1 sent its reconnaissance team to its deployment location in the El Fasher super camp on January 30. Al Hassein and Atoum are confident that the team will authorize the Jordanians to deploy within the next two to three weeks and may even move up the deployment date. March The Bangladesh FPU 2 will deploy to the Nyala super camp in early March. The COE has been in transit since the beginning of January and should arrive in late February. The Bangladesh FPU 3 is also scheduled to deploy in March going to Shangil Tobay, but the arrival date is expected to be delayed until May to allow time to expand the camp. May Bangladesh FPU 4 is expected to arrive in early May which may be before the upgrades on camp facilities can be completed in El Geneina. A logistical assessment is currently ongoing to determine options for temporary housing to allow the unit to arrive on time and start operations while camp construction is finalized. July The Nigerian FPU 3 is scheduled to arrive in July and set up camp in Nertiti, Sector West. The camp is currently operational and housing a Rwandan battalion. Recent Violence -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Al Hussein stated that after the recent fighting and bombing near El Fasher, the FPUs are concentrating on providing 24-hour patrols and community policing to improve confidence inQ UNAMID and maintain calm within the camps. Al Hassan hopes To assure both IDPs and the international community that the FPUs intend to continue to protect civilians and liaise with the SAF and rebels despite the violence. He has personally met with IDP camp leaders to reassure them. Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Embofbs will follow up with UNAMID officials this week to determine what airport upgrades may be required to accommodate the long delayed (by the UN) Ethiopian helicopter units. FERNANDEZ