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OO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0576/01 1050306
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O 150306Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6825
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA IMMEDIATE 0085
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT IMMEDIATE 0014
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0120

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000576 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND IO A/S 
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2017 
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN PREL MOPS PINR KPKO UN
AU-1, SU 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH UNMIS FC LTG 
LIDDER AND UN/OCHA SECURITY MCDONAGH 
 
REF: A. KHARTOUM 574 
     ¶B. KHARTOUM 575 
 
KHARTOUM 00000576  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: On April 14, Deputy Secretary Negroponte met 
with UNMIS Force Commander (FC) Lt. General Lidder and Head 
of Security for UN/OCHA in Darfur Michael McDonagh.  Both 
emphasized that simply increasing the size of peace-keeping 
operations (PKO) would not stabilize Darfur.  General Lidder 
underlined that the AU Forces are not using the resources 
they have and are demoralized, so any expanded PKO would also 
have to have radically different command.  McDonagh added 
that rebel forces are the greatest threat to humanitarian 
operations and pressuring these groups to accept peace is the 
only way to control them.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Hybrid Force Will Need Real Leadership 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked General Lidder for his 
assessment of AMIS and his views on an AU/UN hybrid 
operation.  The biggest problem, Lidder underlined, is that 
the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is not using the 
resources it has, so without a radical change in leadership 
more resources will not help.  There is much AMIS could be 
doing now, but the soldiers do little, are often unpaid, and 
are now taking losses.  McDonagh added that there are almost 
no patrols and no AMIS presence whatsoever in the camps. 
Indeed, AMIS has lost so much credibility that it faces 
outright hostility in the camps. 
 
¶3. (C) In response to questions from the Deputy Secretary on 
Light Support Package (LSP) implementation, Lidder explained 
it is now improving.  Since AMIS began taking casualties, 
even the Force Commander, once resistant, is more open to 
advice.  He pointed out that the LSP arrangement of 
delegating tactical command authority to AMIS will not work 
with the Heavy Support Package (HSP) as many countries will 
not allow their troops to be under AU command. 
 
¶4. (C) The LSP is still limited because only 50 of 105 UN 
advisors have arrived.  The UN is also having trouble 
deploying two full colonels because the AU is balking at 
officers that would be senior to AU staff, although these 
officers would be the most effective at giving advice and 
challenging the status quo. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Aid Delivery: Political Process Must Be Pushed 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (C) The Deputy Secretary then asked about the space for 
humanitarian operations.  McDonagh replied that there are 
signs of improvement since the government agreed to ease 
bureaucratic restrictions in late March, but it is too soon 
to tell.  The first assessment committee meets next week. 
 
¶6. (C) McDonagh underscored that targeted attacks by rebels 
are the biggest threat to humanitarian operations.  He 
explained that as each new rebel group splinters off, they 
need to supply themselves with vehicles and communications 
and humanitarian organizations are the best source.  While 
killings have decreased-- the rebels possibly do not want to 
frighten away their suppliers-- carjacking is on the rise and 
many organizations must instead use helicopters, which is not 
sustainable. 
 
¶7. (C) While McDonagh described the G-19 as relatively 
professional, most rebel groups operate like mafias, looking 
to squeeze as much as they can out of their territory. 
However, almost no food aid has been stolen and the water 
drilling rigs have been left untouched. 
 
¶8. (C) McDonagh believes the only solution is for the 
international community to place massive pressure on the 
rebel groups.  The Deputy Secretary noted the difficulty of 
negotiating with leaders of rebel groups which often lose 
influence with their membership once they leave the field for 
talks. 
 
 
KHARTOUM 00000576  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. (C) The Deputy Secretary then asked about the conditions 
in the camps.  McDonagh said that the people feel safe from 
the Arab militias in the camps because they are banding 
together to protect themselves.  However, there is no 
policing and crime runs rampant. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
CPA: Redeployment Could Become a Problem 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) On implementation of the Comprehensive Peace 
Agreement (CPA), Lidder told the Deputy Secretary that he is 
concerned about the slow pace of forming the Joint Integrated 
Units (JIUs).  While he is satisfied with the progress of 
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) redeployment to the north, he is 
concerned that the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) 
is not redeploying as required, citing the lack of effective 
JIUs.  He fears that by May or June, the SAF will use this as 
an excuse to stop their redeployment (due to be completed by 
9 July), leading to further problems. 
 
¶11. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Deputy Secretary 
Jendayi E. Frazer, A/S for African Affairs 
Cameron Hume, Charge d'Affairs 
Bobby Pittman, Senior Director for Africa, National Security 
Council 
Bill Garvelink, USAID Advisor 
Colonel Dennis Giddens, Department of Defense Advisor 
Lt. Colonel Joseph Bovy, Defense Liaison Office 
Gustavo Delgado, D staff 
Ted Wittenstein, D staff 
Michael Honigstein (Embassy Notetaker) 
 
United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 
Lt. General Lidder, UNMIS Force Commander 
Lt. Colonel Kochhar, Executive Officer to UNMIS Force 
Commander 
 
UN/OCHA 
Michael McDonagh, Head of Security 
HUME