US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1260

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001260 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/RSA FOR BITTRICK AND KENNY 
AF/W FOR EPSTEIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, MOPS, PHUM, SU, NI, DARFUR 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR DARFUR DEPLOYMENT 
 
REF: ABUJA 2818 
 
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR RUSSELL J. HANKS FOR 1.5 (B) 
AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) 19 July, Embassy received a faxed copy of a letter 
dated 14 July from Chief of Army Staff LTG Martin-Luther 
Agwai requesting U.S. assistance for Nigeria's deployment of 
a company-sized unit to Darfur to act as a protection force 
for international monitors. 
 
2.  (C) The 170-man company is currently quartered in Abuja 
while its heavy equipment is located in Lagos.  The Nigerian 
Army has indicated that the troops and equipment will be 
airlifted to Darfur separately, however, it is still unclear 
whether the Nigerian Air Force will be able to support the 
movement with its own C-130s or if it will require assistance 
from the U.S. or another donor.  We have not received a 
specific request for air lift support. 
 
3.  (C) We have received specific requests for the following: 
 
      - 6 months worth of field rations and/or fresh supplies 
 
      - Fully equipped Level 1 Field Hospital 
 
      - Petroleum oil and lubricants required to run combat 
and logistics equipment during the  period of deployment 
 
      - Hand held radios 
 
      - GPS 
 
      - VSAT internet connectivity 
 
      - Image intensification goggles (COMMENT: possibly 
infrared.  We will seek clarification.    COMMENT.) 
 
      - Image intensification binoculars 
 
      - Night vision goggles 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT: While the GON has not made an official 
request for air lift support, we believe such a request is 
likely in the future.  The Nigerian Air Force's two 
operational C-130s may be adequate to move 170 soldiers from 
Abuja, however, it is unlikely they would be able to handle 
the transportation of the unit's heavy equipment (including 
APCs) from Lagos. 
 
5.  (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Other critical questions remain: 
 
(C) When will the deployment begin? 
 
(C) How will the Nigerian unit fit into the command structure 
of the African Union mission? 
 
(C) Will the unit deploy directly to Sudan or to Chad? 
 
(C) If air lift support is required, will it be USAF or 
contractor? 
 
(C) Will DOD provide an assessment team to help verify 
training status and equipment requirements for deploying unit. 
 
(C) How much support is available from other donors (EU et 
cetera)? 
 
(C) How much is the USG willing to contribute? 
 
END COMMENT. 
CAMPBELL