USG SHOULD SUPPORT MINURCAT'S REQUEST FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000305 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C AND S/USSES NSC FOR GAVIN LONDON FOR POL - LORD PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF MOPS MARR KPKO SA CD SUBJECT: USG SHOULD SUPPORT MINURCAT'S REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL USG MILITARY ADVISORS REF: NDJAMENA 111 NDJAMENA 00000305 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Louis J. Nigro for reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d) ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request -- See para 8. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (C) MINURCAT and DOD officials concur on the need for additional USG military staff officers to deploy to MINURCAT. DOD has recommended that a total of eight USG military officers serve in the peacekeeping mission and MINURCAT has committed to finding appropriate positions for all eight. UN peacekeeping headquarters in New York appears to have a different view on the situation, claiming that there are only two vacant staff officer positions within the UN. Post supports the recommendation of increasing the USG complement to eight and requests that Washington confirm this with SRSG Angelo and support efforts to realize this goal. Besides reinforcing USG political support for MINURCAT and bringing superlative technical skills that enhance the mission's ability to protect civilians in eastern Chad and northeastern CAR, increasing the current staff officer slots will provides us a wider window into mission operations, enabling us to better evaluate a mission to which we are a major contributor. END SUMMARY. -------------- NEED FOR ADDITIONAL USG MILITARY ADVISORS -------------- ¶3. (C) US Military Observers Group (USMOG) visited Chad in June to evaluate the first deployment of two military staff officers to MINURCAT. USMOG noted that prior difficulties within MINURCAT's administration had been resolved and that the current staff officer (the second had departed early due to a medical reason) was fully integrated into MINURCAT operations in a position commensurate with his experience and background. ¶4. (C) At that time, USMOG recommended that it would be beneficial to have an additional six USG military officers assigned to MINURCAT, increasing to eight the full complement of USG staff officers in the peacekeeping mission. MINURCAT officials, including head of mission Victor Angelo, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), signaled their need for all eight USG military officers and welcomed the USMOG's recommendation. ¶5. (C) MINURCAT and DOD officials state that there is now uncertainty within the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) headquarters in New York as to the need for the eight staff officers. According to DOD officials, DPKO claims that the staffing for MINURCAT shows only two vacant staff officer positions. MINURCAT officials state that there are at least 30 vacant staff officer positions for the mission, a fact stated in summary briefings to delegations on the status of operations. ¶6. (C) A MINURCAT interlocutor told POLOFF July 24 that MINURCAT definitively requests the six additional USG staff officers, for a total of eight, and is committed to assigning them positions commensurate with their skill and rank. MINURCAT's preferences for placement of USG staff officers, in rank order from top priority, are: the Joint Mission Analysis Center (JMAC),which is the mission's intelligence section located in the office of the SRSG; UN air operations; J-2; J-3; J-4; J-5; the Joint Operation Center (JOC); and J-7. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Embassy Ndjamena supports MINURCAT's request for eight USG military officers, concurring with the USMOG that the increase would be beneficial for both sides. Besides reinforcing USG political support for MINURCAT and bringing superlative technical skills that enhance the mission's ability to protect civilians in eastern Chad and NE CAR, increasing the current staff officer slots will provides us a wider window into mission operations, enabling us to better NDJAMENA 00000305 002.2 OF 002 evaluate a mission to which we are a major contributor. END COMMENT. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶8. (C) That USG interlocutors who meet with SRSG Angelo, whether in New York or Washington, ask him to confirm MINURCAT's need for additional USG military officers, and explore ways the USG can support his request within UN headquarters. END REQUEST. ¶9. Minimize considered. NIGRO