Cablegate: Egyptian Unamid Deployment

VZCZCXRO9562
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2089 2671441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231441Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0544
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1216
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0221

UNCLAS CAIRO 002089

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN UNAMID DEPLOYMENT

REF: A. STATE 100304
B. CAIRO 1213

1. (U) As of September 2008, this is the data we have on
Egypt's UNAMID deployment. Egypt's initial planned
contribution to UNAMID was 1,520 personnel, which it has not
yet met. This number appears to have increased with the
commitment of a second infantry battalion of approximately
850 personnel.

2. (SBU) To date Egypt has deployed 683 troops to UNAMID.
Most recently, Egypt completed the full deployment of its
335-person engineering company, with the arrival in Darfur of
126 engineers in July and another 126 engineers on August 12.
In May, Egypt sent 185 signals personnel to Darfur. They
joined 128 military observers and 35 police trainers that had
previously been deployed. Additionally, Egypt has sent over
800 troops to the UN Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMIS).

3. (SBU) Egypt still needs to deploy two infantry
battalions--of approximately 850 personnel per batallion--and
150 medium transport personnel in order to fulfill its UNAMID
commitment. Post is endeavoring to set up a meeting with the
UN Affairs office in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to discuss deployment plans for these troops, but the meeting
may be delayed until the end of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr
holiday.
SCOBEY

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