VZCZCXRO9378
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #6544 2801412
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061408Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU IMMEDIATE 1863
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 5917
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 8104
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 6466
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI IMMEDIATE 6410
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3388
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0061
UNCLAS STATE 106544
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU KPKO UNSC
SUBJECT: SUDAN - DEPLOYMENT OF NEPALESE FORCES TO UNAMID
REF: A. STATE 102405
B. KATHMANDU 1068
1. This is an action cable -see paragraph 4.
2. The Administration and the Department view the deployment
of 4,000 additional peacekeeping troops from Egypt, Ethiopia,
and Rwanda to Darfur as one of its highest priorities for the
remainder of 2008 (ref A). The Ethiopians and Egyptians were
originally scheduled to deploy to Darfur in the first quarter
of 2008, but to date only small advance companies have been
deployed. Ethiopia is ready to deploy, thanks in part to
U.S. training and equipping, and the GoE sent an August 29,
2008 letter to the UN requesting approval to self-deploy to
Darfur. The United States supports this effort. To date,
however, no written response from the UN to this proposal has
been received.
3. Nepal was on the list of original UN-African Union Mission
in Darfur (UNAMID) troop-contributing countries (TCCs). Per
ref B, the GoN maintains its interest in developments
regarding UNAMID. The United States has sponsored training
for 200 Nepal Police and Armed Police Force officers to
deploy in Formed Police Units (FPUs) to UNAMID. However,
perceived opposition by the Government of Sudan (GoS) to
non-African TCCs may have forced the GoN to reconsider its
UNAMID pledges. In the interest of meeting and/or exceeding
our 4,000-troop goal by the end of December, we are seeking
for the GoN to once again commit to deploying forces to
UNAMID.
4. ACTION REQUEST: COM is requested to contact high-level
host government counterparts to assess the readiness of the
GoN to make good on its previous pledges to UNAMID. COM
should urge counterparts to press forward with key steps in
the deployment process. These steps most notably include
preparing a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN and going
forward with a Pre-Deployment Assessment Visit. Post is also
requested to urge government officials to seriously consider
self-deployment. Please find out what additional impediments
remain to deployment and how the USG might be of help toward
their removal. NOTE: The USG is not prepared to offer
specific assistance to the GoN for deployment of its forces,
but Post is encouraged to consider ways in which the USG
might help resolve any obstacles to such deployment.
5. Please submit response to demarche request by Wednesday,
October 8, 2008. For further information on this cable,
please contact AF/SPG, Emily Bruno, 202-647-5066.
6. Minimize considered.
RICE