VZCZCXYZ0032
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4559 3021412
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 281407Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 114559 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018 
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV EU PREF CD FR PKO CT CM
SUBJECT: COORDINATING WITH FRENCH ON UN FOLLOW-ON PRESENCE 
IN CHAD AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
 
REF: A. NDJAMENA 491 AND PREVIOUS 
     ¶B. PARIS 1936 
 
Classified By: ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY PHILLIP CARTER, 1.4 (B) 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 2. 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Department requests Embassy Paris to engage with the 
Government of France (GOF) on ways to move forward on 
ensuring a sufficient United Nations peacekeeping mission to 
replace the current United Nations Mission to the Central 
African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the European Union 
Peacekeeping Force (EUFOR).  Department would like to discuss 
options for coordinated initiatives to support ongoing 
efforts by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping 
Operations (DPKO) to generate sufficient forces, personnel, 
and resources for a follow-on peacekeeping mission in Chad 
and northeast Central African Republic (CAR).  Department 
also seeks French input on the presence of formed police 
units (FPU) in the follow-on mission.  Following an agreement 
on a coordinated approach between the USG and GOF, the 
Department would like to work with the French to jointly 
inform DPKO of our views. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
---------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Department asks Embassy Paris to pursue the following 
objectives: 
 
- Commend the French for their support of the current 
MINURCAT and EUFOR missions in eastern Chad and northeast 
CAR, as well as French support for United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 1834 extending the mandate for MINURCAT to 
March 2009. 
 
- Highlight USG support for a follow-on mission in the region 
to replace the current MINURCAT/EUFOR mission and to improve 
the security situation in both eastern Chad and northeast CAR. 
 
-  Note while USG financial contributions for a follow-on 
mission must go through the formal approval process within 
USG, the Department will advocate with the United States 
Congress for resources for a follow-on mission. 
 
- Ask French officials for their views on the tasks and 
composition of a follow-on mission; specifically, should 
there be a strong African component to the follow-on mission? 
 What should be the ratio of gendarmes or Formed Police Units 
(FPUs) to military peacekeepers?  In Chad?  In the CAR?  Note 
that air assets will be an important force enabler. 
 
- Inform them the Department is prepared to encourage African 
partners in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI),s 
Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) 
program to contribute units to a follow-on United Nations 
mission.  Indicate that the USG plans to provide assistance 
to train and equip contingents for a follow-on mission, as 
resources allow.  Ask which African countries should be 
prioritized for training and equipping support. 
 
- Ask the French for additional ways the USG and France can 
partner together to ensure sufficient resources are available 
for the follow-on United Nations mission, and note that 
Department experts are prepared to coordinate via a Video 
Teleconference (VTC) with French authorities. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶4.  (C) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1834 
extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the 
Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) to March 2009, 
which coincides with the end of the mandate of the European 
Peacekeeping Force (EUFOR) established to provide security to 
MINURCAT personnel, humanitarian operations, and the civilian 
population.  The United Nations Secretary General,s 
September 15 report on MINURCAT and EUFOR activities 
recommended a United Nations mission in eastern Chad and 
northeast Chad that would include 6,000 peacekeepers to 
replace the EUFOR force.  Also, there would be an "over the 
horizon" rapid response force of some kind-a concept that was 
not very fleshed out in the report.  The Special 
Representative for MINURCAT, Victor Angelo, and the Assistant 
Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mullet, 
noted the Government of Chad has agreed in principle to an 
expanded follow-on force.  DPKO recently obtained 
confirmation from President Deby.  President Bozize has also 
expressed support for a continued United Nations presence in 
northeast CAR. 
 
¶5.  (C) United Nations officials have noted that the ability 
to stand up an expanded peacekeeping mission to take over 
EUFOR,s responsibilities depends upon the number of troop 
contributing countries (TCCs).  While we understand that some 
EUFOR countries are prepared to rehat troops to become part 
of the UN mission, other countries, including France (which 
provides a significant portion of the current EUFOR 
contingent) are reluctant to maintain a presence in eastern 
Chad.  France has suggested a greater African presence for a 
follow-on mission, but this possibility may meet resistance 
from certain groups who view African forces as ill-prepared 
and ill-equipped to handle the challenges of a difficult 
region. 
 
¶6.  (C) The United States supports the presence of an 
expanded United Nations mission that would take over EUFOR,s 
functions.  An expanded peacekeeping mission would help 
protect vulnerable populations and humanitarian operations in 
an increasingly volatile region.  It would also permit 
MINURCAT to continue its current responsibilities of training 
and monitoring Chadian gendarmes to protect refugee and IDP 
camps, and allow the mission to have a more active role in 
enhancing local security capacities in eastern Chad.  FY 2009 
budget request for the USG assessed share of a follow-on 
mission is USD 39 million, but this allocation still requires 
formal USG approval, and is likely to be insufficient to meet 
our assessed share of a total MINURCAT budget that could 
reach $600 million or more.  In addition, AF is considering 
reaching out to ACOTA partners (such as Cameroon) to 
encourage them to provide troops and FPUs to a follow-on 
mission. 
 
¶7.  (C) In order to support DPKO,s efforts in full, however, 
we believe that coordination with the French is essential. 
Sounding the French out on their views for tangible 
approaches to ensure a robust presence in eastern Chad and 
northeast CAR will allow the USG to better gauge its 
discussions with DPKO on how best to move forward in 
implementing a follow-on mission. 
 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶7.  (U) Embassy should report results of efforts by cable to 
AF/C and AF/RSA by Tuesday, October 28. 
 
POINT OF CONTACT 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Please contact AF/C Desk Officer Satrajit (Jitu) 
Sardar at (202) 647-4966 or via classified or unclassified 
e-mail or AF/RSA Desk Officer Chris Pommerer at (202) 
647-7158 or via classified or classified e-mail for any 
necessary further background information or argumentation to 
meet our objectives. 
RICE