DARFUR: EGYPT STILL RETICENT ON DEPLOYING TROOPS, OFFERS MORE FOR HYBRID FORCE

CONFIDENTIAL C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002035 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2017 TAGS: PREL, KPKO, UNSC, MASS, EG, SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPT STILL RETICENT ON DEPLOYING TROOPS, OFFERS MORE FOR HYBRID FORCE REF: A. STATE 90022 B. CAIRO 1543 C. KHARTOUM 951 Classified by DCM Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1. (C) Summary: Poloffs delivered ref A demarche to MFA Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid on July 1. Abu Zeid confirmed that Sudanese President Bashir's acceptance of the UN/AU hybrid force lowered a barrier to deploying peacekeepers, but that deployment of Egyptian troops still depends on the "consent of the parties on the ground." Abu Zeid said that Egypt was still rejecting a UN request to defer acceptance of an Egyptian infantry battalion offered for the heavy support package (HSP), and outlined a new Egyptian troop offer for the hybrid force. Discussing a potential Minni Minawi visit to Cairo, Abu Zeid confirmed that Egypt would continue to offer public support for Minawi and for UN/AU-led political reconciliation, and hoped that the July 6-7 conference in Tripoli would help coordinate international efforts to unify Darfur rebel groups. End summary. ----------------------------------- Troop Deployment at the Proper Time ----------------------------------- 2. (C) On July 1, poloffs discussed ref A demarche with MFA Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid, highlighting the urgency of deploying UN peacekeepers to Darfur and encouraging Egypt to drop conditions on its previously offered 1200 - 1900 troops for the Heavy Support Package (HSP). Abu Zeid confirmed that, with President Bashir's acceptance of the UN/AU hybrid force, there was no longer any objection from the Sudanese government; however, deployment of an Egyptian force still depends on the "consent of the parties on the ground." When pressed on this point, Abu Zeid said only that the details will have to be worked out "at the proper time." 3. (C) The UN still prefers to defer an Egyptian infantry battalion offered for the HSP and use it instead for the hybrid force, Abu Zeid said. Echoing Ministry of Defense interlocutors (ref B), he reiterated that Egyptian infantry must accompany Egyptian units offered for the HSP to guarantee protection. ----------------------------------------- New Egyptian Offer for UN/AU Hybrid Force ----------------------------------------- 4. (SBU) Abu Zeid outlined an Egyptian offer for the follow-on hybrid force, presented to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on June 29. The Egyptian contribution would consist of three infantry battalions, one field hospital, 100 military observers, and 107 police observers. Asked about providing a mechanized battalion, either for the hybrid operation or to bolster AMIS forces on the ground, Abu Zeid said that Egypt had already offered one or two for the HSP and a third for the hybrid force; however, if more are needed "of course we are ready." --------------------------------------- Delayed Minawi Visit, Tripoli Conference --------------------------------------- 5. (C) Abu Zeid said that Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) leader Minni Minawi's trip to Cairo (ref C), previously set for June 19, was delayed because meetings could not be scheduled at such short notice; no new date was yet arranged. Egypt offered public support for Minawi and his adherence to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on his last trip to Cairo, he continued, and would likely do so again this time, as part of Egypt's support for the DPA and UN/AU-led political reconciliation. 6. (C) Along these lines, Egypt will attend the UN/AU-driven July 6 - 7 conference in Tripoli. Abu Zeid hoped that this conference would help to coordinate disparate initiatives aimed at unifying the negotiating positions of the DPA non-signatories. RICCIARDONE