US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1801

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001801 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND PM/RSAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, PINR, SU, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN ARMY 6BN DEPLOYMENT TO DARFUR 
 
REF: ADDIS ABABA 3564 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN CAMPBELL FOR REASONS 1.5 b AND d. 
 
 1. (C)  Summary.  On October 22, a senior Nigerian military 
officer told Post that Nigeria intended to deploy the 6th 
Battalion from Abak to Darfur on October 28.  This is a 
change from the GON's preferred unit, 72d Para Battalion, in 
response to USG concerns over that unit's human rights 
record.  He said this change, however, leaves the newly 
designated unit untrained and unequipped for deployment to 
Sudan.  An airplane fuel shortage may significantly limit the 
ability to perform airlift from Nigeria.  A planning 
conference will be held by Nigerian Defense Headquarters on 
Tuesday, October 26 to establish a deployment timeline, 
though Nigeria has not yet received a formal request for 
deployment from the AU.  Biographic information on General 
Okonkwo follows.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C)  On October 22, DAO received information from a 
highly-placed officer in the office of the Chief of Defense 
Staff (CDS) identifying the selection of 6th Battalion from 
Abak for deployment to Darfur on October 28.  This was 
confirmed by the Deputy Director (Air) for Peacekeeping 
Operations (DDA/PKO) at Defense Headquarters later that 
evening.  DAO reported DDA/PKO did not show a sense of 
urgency for this deployment, though the unit was unequipped 
for this mission and has not gone through a pre-deployment 
train-up (Note:  The typical pre-PKO deployment train-up is 
at least six weeks long.  End note.)  DDA/PKO also said that 
a planning conference was scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 
to establish a deployment timeline.  Embassy DATT has asked 
to make an assessment of the 6th Battalion. 
 
3. (C)  The October 28 deployment date was set by the African 
Union (reftel), apparently without reference to airlift 
availability. 
 
4. (C)  If 6 Bn is deployed from Abak, the closest military 
airfields are in Calabar and Port Harcourt.  Travel to either 
of these airfields will require overland movement through the 
Niger Delta region, some of the most dangerous areas in 
Nigeria.  Road conditions in this area are not good and the 
availability of sufficient wheeled transport and gasoline to 
move the battalion should not be assumed.  Additionally, 
commercial airlines in Nigeria have experienced fuel 
shortages so severe as to require the cancellation of 
scheduled flights in the last week.  The availability of fuel 
for lift aircraft at these airfields should also not be 
assumed. 
 
5. (C)  DAO and PolMilOff met with Major General Okonkwo 
(biographic note below) October 23 to discuss deployment of 
the 6th Battalion.  Okonkwo confirmed that the 6th Battalion 
was identified, but he also did not think that the October 28 
deployment date was feasible.  He said that basic soldier 
items necessary for deployment, such as boots and uniforms, 
had been issued to 72d Para Bn in anticipation of their 
deployment, and those items could not be taken away to give 
to the newly designated unit.  When asked, he said that the 
first week of November might be a reasonable date to begin 
deployment.  He said that donor support for these soldier 
items would not be required.  Funds had been requested from, 
and made available by, the Presidency and the items would 
likely be procured from a commercial company in Kano. 
 
6. (C)  Okonkwo also confirmed that a planning conference 
will take place on October 26, and said that he would be 
returning to Sudan on that day.  However, General Agwai 
(COAS) is in Accra and will not return to Abuja until 
Wednesday, October 27.  Okonkwo also said that a formal AU 
request for deployment of the Nigerian units still has not 
been received. 
 
7. (C)  Okonkwo said that the 6th Battalion will deploy from 
either Port Harcourt or from Calabar, but he has not heard of 
a preference for either one.  DAO said the EUCOM planners had 
expressed a preference for Port Harcourt if U.S. airlift is 
used because it is a larger, more capable airfield.  He said 
that the deployment would be of two companies of 196 soldiers 
each, plus 41 soldiers to augment the Nigerian company 
already deployed.  Okonkwo also said that the units would not 
be deploying with vehicles, with the possible exception of 
APCs.  He said that each company-sized sector would have 
three wheeled APCs to act as a deterrent force at their 
command posts.  He would not commit to any specifics about 
the APCs, and it was not clear if the units would deploy with 
organic APCs or receive them in Sudan. 
 
Biographic Note 
---------------- 
 
8.  (C)  Okonkwo received a promotion to Major General on 
October 22-a promotion he said has been due since April, but 
he has not been in Nigeria to receive it.  He said he is 
planning to remain in Sudan until his contract expires in 
April 2005.  He believes he will remain the force commander 
in Sudan, and his promotion shows that the Nigerian military 
has confidence in his ability to perform in that capacity.  A 
Brigadier General will be assigned as a deputy, likely from 
Ghana, and the current Ghanaian Chief Military Observer will 
become the Chief of Staff for the expanded AU mission. 
 
9. (C)  Okonkwo was in ECOMOG in Liberia in 1995-97, serving 
as Monrovia Task Force Commander.  He returned to Liberia in 
July 2003 as ECOMIL Commander and then served as Deputy Force 
Commander of UNMIL until he departed Liberia in April 2004 
for his current AU assignment. 
 
10. (C)  From the Nigerian Command and General Staff College 
Yearbook, 1988:  Major F. O. Okonkwo was born on May 30, 1951 
at Enugwu Agidi in Nji Koka Local Government Area of Anambra 
State.  He attended St. James's and St. Michael's Primary 
Schools in Kaduna.  His secondary education was obtained at 
Williams Memorial Grammar School, Afugiri Umuahia.  Major 
Okonkwo was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on June 21, 
1975 and posted to Headquarters, Brigade of Guards but 
changed to Armoured Corps in October 1977.  He attended 
various courses including Young Officers Course, Armour, 
(NAAS); Jungle Warfare (NASI); AJSC, CSC; Tank Commander's 
Course, USSR; and Tank Technology Course, India.  He held the 
following appointments:  Company Commander, Infantry; Company 
Commander, Armour; General Service Officer 3, Training; SO II 
Equipment/QSVCs; SI Auto.  Major Okonkwo is married with two 
children.  His hobbies include athletics and table tennis. 
 
11. (U)  Minimize considered. 
CAMPBELL