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PP RUEHMR RUEHPA
DE RUEHDS #4223/01 3621335
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281335Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8446
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0789
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2685
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1680
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 6808
RUEHTRO/USLO TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0080
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGBA/USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0182

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 004223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, L/DL, IO/UNP, S/P. 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU AU ER ET
SUBJECT: AU BUREAU DIRECTOR ON U.S.-AU RELATIONS, AU 
SUMMIT, DARFUR 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00004223  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4 (B) 
 AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary:  The African Union (AU) welcomes plans to 
enhance U.S.-AU relations and is willing to work with the USG 
on privileges and immunities for a U.S. Ambassador to the AU, 
AU Bureau of the Chairperson Director Mamadou Lamine Diallo 
told PolEconCouns and Poloff December 27.  The AU plans to 
open its own office in Washington early in 2006 and Konare 
has tapped a former Chadian Foreign Minister for the post of 
Permanent Advisor for its New York office.  Diallo also 
indicated that despite AU Commission efforts to dissuade 
Sudanese President Bashir from running for AU Assembly 
Chairman, some AU member states do not appear to understand 
the negative impact a Bashir Chairmanship would have on AU 
credibility.  On Darfur, Diallo emphasized the need to apply 
sustained pressure to reach a political settlement.  End 
summary. 
 
--------------------------- 
ENHANCING U.S.-AU RELATIONS 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Diallo told PolEconCouns that the AU very much 
appreciates U.S. plans to nominate a separate Ambassador to 
the AU.  Asked by PolEconCouns whether the new headquarters 
agreement being negotiated between the AU and the GOE will 
address privileges and immunities for non-African Ambassadors 
accredited to the AU, Diallo responded that he would work 
with the AU Legal Department in that respect.  (Note: 
Although more than 20 non-African Ambassadors are currently 
accredited to the AU, all are double-hatted as Ambassador to 
Ethiopia and to the AU. These Ambassadors enjoy privileges 
and immunities by virtue of their status with the GOE.  The 
USG would be the first to nominate a separate Ambassador to 
the AU.  End note).  At PolEconCouns request, Diallo also 
pledged to work with the Embassy on ensuring the USG secures 
invitations to events such as the upcoming AU Summit, which 
are currently given automatically to accredited Embassies 
only. 
 
¶3. (C) Diallo said that the AU intends to open its 
Washington, DC office early in 2006 and that the Legal 
Department is reviewing privileges and immunities issues.  He 
acknowledged awareness that the OAU office in New York never 
actually enjoyed diplomatic status in the past and that the 
President had designated the AU an International Organization 
in spring 2005.  Diallo noted that the AU has yet to select a 
head for the Washington office, but revealed that the 
Chairperson has tapped a former Chadian Foreign Minister as 
Permanent Advisor for the AU office in New York (Comment:  AU 
appointment of a Permanent Advisor in New York would signal 
increased AU seriousness in coordinating member state 
positions at the UN.  End comment). 
 
¶4. (C) Referring to successful inaugural U.S.-AU Policy 
Planning Talks in July 2005, PolEconCouns asked if the 
Chairperson has considered S/P's invitation to regularize the 
talks.  Diallo commented that twice-yearly talks may be 
difficult for the short-staffed AU to adhere to, but said the 
AU would welcome yearly talks in Addis Ababa or Washington 
between USG officials and the college of AU Commissioners. 
He also noted that the AU and USG could take advantage of 
September UNGA meetings to arrange bilateral consultations. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
AU CHAIRMANSHIP - BASHIR STILL LOOMING 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Turning to the upcoming AU Summit, PolEconCouns asked 
Diallo for current Commission views on Obasanjo's successor 
as AU Assembly Chairman.  Diallo stated that AU Commission 
Chairperson Konare had made great efforts to dissuade 
Sudanese President Al-Bashir from running, arguing that it is 
"not the right time" for a Sudanese chairmanship (Note: 
Diallo asked that we keep Konare's opposition to a Bashir 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00004223  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Chairmanship confidential since the Sudanese have accused the 
Commission of violating impartiality.  End note).  Diallo 
(strictly protect) commented that although the AU Commission 
believes a Bashir chairmanship would be disastrous for AU 
credibility, some AU member states do not appear to grasp 
that concept.  According to Diallo, there is still "high 
possibility" that Bashir will win the Assembly chairmanship. 
Diallo said that East Africa supports Bashir, but also noted 
that Ethiopia had discouraged Bashir from declaring 
candidacy.  On the possibility of other candidates, Diallo 
mentioned rumors that Congo-Brazzavile President Sassou 
Nguesso is a front-runner, but said Nguesso has not 
officially declared his candidacy. 
 
¶6. (C) On election mechanics, Diallo said that the Assembly 
Chairman will be elected by two-thirds majority in a closed 
session of the Assembly just before the January 23-24 Summit 
in Khartoum.  In reality, though, consensus on the Chair 
should be known shortly as the AU Commission will need to 
work with the upcoming Chair to prepare the Summit.  Diallo 
mentioned that Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, 
Ghana, Mali, Benin, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius and 
South Africa are the most active AU members, and are 
therefore the most useful targets for potential U.S. 
approaches on the issue of succeeding Obasanjo. 
 
¶7. (C) In a separate meeting, the Nigerian DCM told Poloff 
that Nigeria had directly informed Bashir that Sudan would 
not be allowed to host the AU Summit if Bashir were to pursue 
Assembly Chairmanship.  Nigeria firmly believes that a 
Sudanese Chairmanship is inappropriate while Darfur remains 
unresolved, he said.  According to the Nigerian DCM, Obasanjo 
is prepared to step down, but wants to ensure a strong 
successor.  Several Addis-based African diplomats have pegged 
Congo-Brazzaville President Sassou Nguesso as the front 
runner, but Nigeria may prefer Rwandan President Kagame.  The 
Nigerian DCM commented that Ethiopian PM Meles would be a 
strong candidate, but said Meles appears too distracted by 
internal political issues and the border dispute with Eritrea 
to declare candidacy.  He also lamented that the Tanzanian 
president is so new, as a candidate from the East would 
likely triumph over a candidate from the Central region. 
 
¶8. (C) Note:  Post is engaging in consultations to prepare a 
comprehensive scenesetter ahead of the AU Summit.  End note. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
DARFUR - RE-HATTING TALK DISTRACTS POLITICAL TALKS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶9. (C) On Darfur and the scheduled January 12 Peace and 
Security Council (PSC) decision to determine the future of 
AMIS, Diallo said that the AU Commission is still considering 
the added value of a UN transition.  Diallo stated that 
Konare's own thinking is that the international community 
must place more pressure on the Sudanese government and the 
rebel parties to reach a political settlement.  Funding 
issues aside, Diallo noted, the AU questions the UN's ability 
to perform better than AMIS in the absence of a political 
deal.  Diallo commented that the UN has natural comparative 
advantage when it comes to resettlement, reconstruction and 
monitoring.  Despite acknowledging that a UN transition would 
take several months, he voiced AU fear that the Sudanese 
parties will sideline the AU if too much emphasis is placed 
on re-hatting and not enough focus is given to securing a 
political settlement.  Diallo expressed confidence that a 
political settlement is possible, perhaps even prior to the 
AU Summit, because he assessed that both the government and 
rebel groups know a military solution is not achievable, and 
that the Sudanese government is serious about addressing 
Darfur. 
 
--------------------------- 
AU ROLE ON ETHIOPIA-ERITREA 
--------------------------- 
 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00004223  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶10. (C) Diallo mentioned that the Ethiopia-Eritrea border 
issue may be considered during a special Summit session of 
the Peace and Security Council.  According to Diallo, the AU 
Commission favors calling a meeting of the Witnesses in the 
near future.  PolEconCouns noted that AF DAS Yamamoto plans a 
trip to Addis the week of January 9, which will provide an 
opportunity to coordinate efforts.  Diallo stated that the AU 
Commission has so far not placed priority on Algiers 
Agreement provisions calling for an OAU investigation on the 
causes of the Ethiopia-Eritrea war.  He had no comment on the 
recent Ethiopia-Eritrea Claims Commission decision finding 
Eritrea at fault for starting the conflict. 
 
¶11. (U) Minimize considered. 
 
 
 
 
 
HUDDLESTON