VZCZCXRO9514
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #0304/01 0330653
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 020653Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8898
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E, D:SMITH. 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 
TAGS: PREL MASS KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: DARFUR:  AU SITREP 1 FEBRUARY 2006 
 
REF: A. STATE 1351 
     ¶B. ADDIS ABABA 140 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND 
(D) 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The African Union (AU) is working with 
partners in a technical committee to implement December joint 
assessment mission recommendations to improve AMIS 
performance, but this committee is not empowered to consider 
steps necessary to effect a transition to a UN mission.  The 
AU faces a budget gap of 4.7 million dollars to sustain the 
mission until the currently-authorized March 31 mandate, but 
from April will face a shortfall of approximately 20 million 
per month until a UN transition -- not including 
accommodations costs currently covered by the USG.  AU staff 
responsible for African Standby Force (ASF) development will 
join NATO training for the Darfur Integrated Task Force 
(DITF) from February 6.  The AU Commission is likely to seek 
more concrete information on pledges to ensure AMIS is funded 
through the transition phase and that the African character 
of the mission will be retained in order to produce a 
positive outcome during the March foreign ministers-level 
Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting on the future of 
AMIS.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
ENHANCING AMIS PERFORMANCE BEFORE A TRANSITION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (C) The DITF set up a technical committee with partner 
participation (including UN, NATO, EU and UK) to develop a 
roadmap for implementation of March and December joint 
assessment mission recommendations.  Terms of reference for 
the committee will be finalized the week of January 30.  The 
AU aims to effect improvements to AMIS performance by the end 
of April.  The Technical Committee is not mandated to look 
into preparations necessary to effect a handover to the UN, 
but UN representatives are starting to engage with relevant 
AU partners on the disposition of equipment and other items 
following a transition.  UN representatives state that, once 
the USG UNSC Presidency secures the required green light, a 
UN planning team will travel to the field to work discretely 
on transition requirements before the deployment of a 
30-person strong technical assessment team.  The AU would 
need to ask the UN to participate in compiling documents for 
the March PSC.  Also according to UN representatives, Head of 
the UN Assistance Cell to the AU MG Anyidoho has been 
deployed to Abuja in order to better inform an eventual UN 
mission on security arrangements and challenges. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Continued British-funded delivery of vehicles, 
Dutch-funded delivery of communications equipment, 
Canadian-funded delivery of APCs, and USG-funded delivery of 
equipment to enable AMIS night flights contribute to enhanced 
AMIS performance.  However, the AU has yet to succeed in 
having the Sudanese government lift its curfew in Darfur, 
which renders AMIS night operation nearly impossible.  The AU 
is about to finalize AMIS rules of engagement (ROE), which 
have already been distributed to the sectors. 
 
¶4. (SBU) NATO teams will travel to Addis Ababa and El Fasher 
from February 6-17 to conduct capacity-building training for 
AU headquarters and field staff.  The AU has authorized 
officers responsible for the African Standby Force to 
participate in the same NATO training course.  The DITF is in 
the process of recruiting up to 10 staff to work with the 
Canadian Information Analysis Cell at the DITF to produce an 
indigenous AU open-source information collection, analysis 
and dissemination, as well as map-making, capability. 
 
¶5. (SBU) DITF Head Amb. Ki Doulaye told the partners liaison 
group which meets twice-weekly with the AU that AU media 
staff will be available to meet with partner experts after 
NATO training is complete in order to exchange ideas to 
improve AMIS media strategy and public outreach. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The DITF is awaiting field comment on the Joint 
Operations Center (JOC) structure.  According to DITF staff, 
outgoing Force Commander Okonkwo disagreed with command and 
control proposals for the JOC.  Amb. Ki Doulaye stated his 
intention to deploy officers to staff the JOC, but the AU has 
yet to comment on partner offers for assistance. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
REASSURING AFRICA TO SECURE A FINAL TRANSITION DECISION 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The AU Commission and Addis-based African diplomats 
expressed interest in USG proposals to ensure that AMIS is 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000304  002 OF 002 
 
 
funded throughout a transition period, and to retain the 
African character of a UN mission through re-hatting AMIS 
troops and working to secure an African Force Commander or 
Deputy Force Commander (Ref A).  These same officials, 
though, also seek more details on how these results will be 
achieved. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The DITF is revising budget estimates at the request 
of Peace and Security Commissioner Amb. Said Djinnit.  As of 
February 1, the AU reports a shortfall of 4.7 million dollars 
to fund AMIS through March 31, and a 20 million dollar 
monthly gap thereafter until an AMIS transition to a UN 
mission.  (Note:  This shortfall does not take into account 
accommodations and related costs, currently funded by the 
USG.  End note).  The British decision to fund AMIS ground 
fuel needs from November 15, 2005, through March 31, 2006, 
will slightly reduce, but not eliminate, the gap.  According 
to European Commission Delegation representatives, the 
February 1 EU PSC requested a comprehensive report on Sudan, 
including AMIS funding, to enable a decision on whether to 
disburse an additional 40 to 50 million euros.  The EU also 
wants to see other partners increase contributions before 
making a final decision.  Amb. Djinnit, who recently traveled 
to New York for consultations with the UN in preparation for 
the planned February 20 Darfur Conference in Brussels, 
emphasizes the need for clarity on how the AMIS funding gap 
will be addressed. 
 
¶9. (C) The AU Commission wants to submit a detailed report to 
the March PSC to enable a final decision on AMIS transition. 
In the AU's eyes, this report should contain specific 
information on the modalities of transition, including how to 
retain the African character of the mission.  The AU 
Commission fears an uphill battle with Sudan and its 
supporters and emphasizes the need to reassure member states. 
(Note:  This concern translates to extra AU caution when it 
comes to additional NATO engagement at this stage.  Amb. 
Djinnit has made clear his view that NATO support is 
value-added, but wants to take NATO support one step at a 
time while AMIS transition remains an issue.  End note). 
 
HUDDLESTON