VZCZCXRO2513
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #8482 2831756
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091752Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9545
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 6791
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 1340
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 5932
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 8170
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 6473
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3442
UNCLAS STATE 108482
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BG ID PGOV PK PREL SU KPKO
SUBJECT: SUDAN - CONFIRMATION OF FORCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
UNAMID
REF: STATE 102405
1. This is an action cable - see paragraphs 4, 5 and 6.
2. The Administration and the Department view the deployment
of 4,000 peacekeeping troops, including from Egypt, Ethiopia
and Rwanda, to Darfur as one of its highest priorities for
the remainder of 2008. 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 in order to prepare the ground for follow-on units.
Ethiopia is ready to deploy, thanks in part to U.S. training
and equipping, and sent an August 29, 2008 letter to the
United Nations (UN) requesting approval to self-deploy
personnel to Darfur. The United States supports this effort;
however, troops cannot deploy to Darfur until their
contingent-owned equipment (COE) has arrived in theater. The
UN will engage with Ethiopia to deploy its personnel once
their COE has arrived at its final destination. Egypt says
it is ready to deploy but is blaming UN regulations for its
inability to self-deploy, a claim we continue to pursue with
the Egyptian Government (NOTE: The UN has received nothing in
writing from Egypt asking to self-deploy).
3. According to UNAMID deployment projections, Indonesia,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh are all scheduled to deploy elements
to UNAMID in autumn/ winter 2008. In the interest of meeting
or exceeding our 4,000-troop goal by the end of December, we
are seeking the Indonesian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi
governments to reconfirm their pledges to UNAMID and give an
update on the status of these projected contributions.
4. ACTION JAKARTA: Indonesia is scheduled to deploy a
140-person Formed Police Unit (FPU) to North Darfur in
October. At the highest level possible, Post is requested to
contact high-level host government counterparts to assess the
readiness of the host government to make good on this pledge
to UNAMID. Post should urge counterparts to press forward
with key steps in the deployment process. Post is also
requested to urge government officials to seriously consider
self-deployment of police and equipment and to ascertain any
additional impediments to deployment (NOTE: The USG is not
prepared to offer specific assistance to host governments 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. ACTION DHAKA: Bangladesh is scheduled to deploy a
327-person multi-role logistic unit to South Darfur in
October. Post is requested to contact host government
counterparts to assess the readiness of the host government
to make good on this pledge to UNAMID. Post should urge
counterparts to press forward with key steps in the
deployment process. Post is also requested to urge
government officials to consider self-deployment of troops
and equipment and to ascertain any additional impediments to
deployment (NOTE: The USG is not prepared to offer specific
assistance to host governments for deployment of its forces,
but Post is encouraged to consider ways in which the USG
might help resolve any obstacles to such deployment).
6. ACTION ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scheduled to contribute a
329-person engineer company to West Darfur and a 156-person
Level III hospital to South Darfur, which requires airlift of
COE in December. Post is requested to contact appropriate
host government officials to assess the readiness of the host
government to make good on this pledge to UNAMID. Post
should urge counterparts to press forward with key steps in
the deployment process. Post is also requested to urge
government officials to seriously consider self-deployment of
troops and equipment and to ascertain any additional
impediments to deployment (NOTE: The USG is not prepared to
offer specific assistance to host governments for deployment
of its forces, but Post is encouraged to consider ways in
which the USG might help resolve any obstacles to such
deployment).
7. Please submit responses to demarche request by Tuesday,
October 14, 2008. For further information on this cable,
please contact AF/SPG Josh Drake, 202-647-2348 or AF/SPG
Emily Bruno, 202-647-5066.
8. Minimize considered.
RICE