Cablegate: Rwanda Unamid Deployment Readiness: Report #4

VZCZCXRO7008
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHLGB #0731 2891620
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151620Z OCT 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5688
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0207
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0040
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0030
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0166

UNCLAS KIGALI 000731

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA UNAMID DEPLOYMENT READINESS: REPORT #4

REF: KIGALI 714

(SBU) 1. The UN Pre-Deployment Visit (PDV) team concluded
its assessment on October 10, having evaluated the four
Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) 800-man battalions slated for
deployment to Darfur at the Gako training base. The PDV team
found the four battalions to be tactically in very good
shape, but logistically needing some further training
assistance -- particularly in the areas of vehicle
maintenance, radio communications, and quartermaster
operations. An ACOTA team at GAKO for the formal dedication
of the ACOTA-funded peacekeeping simulation center met with
the PDV team and Rwandan military personnel and designed a
short training program to address these logistical deficits.
This training will begin November 3, one week's training per
battalion.

(SBU) 2. The PDV team and RDF officers preliminarily agreed
upon an October 20 start date for the deployment of the four
battalions. The UN will fund and organize the deployment of
troops, with equipment and support staff to follow (post
understands discussions are underway with the UN for USG
support for this deployment of equipment). Vehicle operators
and other support staff will undergo the ACOTA-funded
logistical training while the troop deployments are underway.
In accordance with standard deployment operations, they will
accompany their equipment to Darfur.

SIM

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