Cablegate: Sudan: Egyptian Contribution to the African

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS CAIRO 003649

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR PM/PMAT, PM/RSAT, AF/SPG, AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS EAID EG SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN: EGYPTIAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE AFRICAN
UNION'S DARFUR MISSION GROWING

REF: STATE 86775

This message is sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.

1. (SBU) During a May 12 meeting with MFA Sudan Office
Deputy Director Abdelmoneim Omar, poloff explored the current
Egyptian contribution to the African Union (AU)'s Mission in
Sudan (AMIS), drawing from reftel talking points to express
appreciation for Egypt's continued and expanding involvement
in the AU mission. Omar said that as a result of
consultations between President Mubarak and other African
leaders on the margins of a New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD) summit in Egypt April 19, Egypt had sent
a letter ("about 2 weeks ago") to the African Union offering
to provide the AU with a mechanized infantry battalion (158
personnel) for its Military Protection Force in Darfur.
Egypt had earlier communicated to the AU that it was also
willing to increase its current contribution of civil police
observers from 21 up to a maximum of 100. As for military
monitors, Egypt has offered to increase "by any amount
requested" its current contribution of 34 monitors. Omar
complained of the slowness of the AU bureaucracy and lack of
response, regarding Egypt's open offer to provide military
monitors.

2. (SBU) Egypt's current contributions to the three separate
parts of the AMIS mission are as follows:

- Military Protection Force: The GOE recently offered (in
writing) a mechanized infantry battalion consisting of 158
personnel. This would be Egypt's first contribution to this
force. No answer has been received from the AU, according to
the Egyptian MFA.

- Military Monitoring Force: The GOE has 34 observers on the
ground and has offered to provide "any number" that the AU
formally requests from Egypt.

- Civil Police Monitors: Egypt currently has 21 civilian
police observers on the ground in Darfur and has conveyed to
the AU its willingness to increase that number to a maximum
of 100 observers.

3. (U) Khartoum minimize considered.

Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.

GRAY

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