AMBASSADOR'S POST MEMORANDUM - DJIBOUTI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000489

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASIG AMGT DJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S POST MEMORANDUM - DJIBOUTI

Post Memorandum
United States Embassy Djibouti

Djibouti is a close ally of the United States and a key
partner in the global struggle against terrorism. It hosts
the only U.S. military base in sub-Saharan Africa, is
headquarters for the Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of
Africa, which directs coalition counter-terrorism operations
in East Africa and Yemen, and is working diligently to
stabilize the Horn of Africa, including to lessen tensions
between Eritrea and Ethiopia and to achieve peace and
stability in Somalia.

-Embassy Goals and Objectives

As reported in the Embassy's FY 2006 Mission Program Plan,
the goals of Embassy Djibouti are to increase the
effectiveness of Djibouti's partnership with the United
States in the global war on terrorism, to promote regional
stability through cooperation with Djibouti, to enhance the
Embassy's support to U.S. citizens, to broaden public
diplomacy strategies of the United States, and to improve
management and organizational performance of the mission. A
number of performance indicators have been established to
measure performance and to track progress in each of these
areas. Post is above target in its strategic goals on
counter-terrorism and regional stability, with the signing
of a long-term agreement for the U.S. base at Camp Lemonier
and full implementation of local training activities through
the East Africa Counter-terrorism initiative. More work is
needed, however, in the areas of support to U.S. citizens,
development of a full public diplomacy and public affairs
program, and in the promotion of Management and
Organizational excellence.

-Operational Problems

There are a number of operational and administrative support
problems that inhibit Embassy Djibouti's achievement of its
objectives. As a SEP post and hardship differential post,
with a difficult climate and location in a region of Africa
that has previously been the target of terrorism, Embassy
Djibouti has consistently failed to attract experienced
officers for any of its key officer positions. As of
February 22, 2004, the date of arrival at post of this
Ambassador, the Embassy's sole Consular, Public Diplomacy,
Political/Economic, and General Services Officer positions
were all filled by first-tour Junior Officers. In
addition, a first-tour Management Officer departed post the
day of Ambassador's arrival after only a brief tenure. That
position is now being encumbered by an experienced WAE. He
departs June 30, but is not expected to be followed by a
permanently assigned Management Officer in the interim.
This will mean a continuation of interim staffing for the
management section. The steps to overcome these shortfalls
include vigorous recruitment of more senior staff, but is
unlikely to achieve the results post requires, given
staffing realities in the Department in the near- term.

-Performance of Operating Sections

As this Ambassador only arrived at post one month ago, she
is still in the process of conducting evaluations of the
operating sections of the mission. Initial impressions,
however, are of a mission of American and Locally Engaged
Staff who work earnestly and hard, and with tremendous
dedication despite limited resources, to keep the mission
afloat and to achieve U.S. objectives. Performance by all
sections has been admirable despite the absence of an
Ambassador for eight of the past nine months and the absence
of an experienced Management Officer for the same period.
We want to protect U.S. citizens through stringent
application of visa and refugee processing regulations, but
are hampered, and will continue to be hampered in this area,
by concerns about Consular staffing. By August, 2004, the
Consular Section will have lost -either by assignment or
immigration - its entire staff consisting of one American
officer, one American contract employee and on FSN
assistant. With that loss, goes loss of experience. We fear
most the presence of weaknesses in the consular part of our
operations that might inadvertently permit malafides to
enter the United States, either as refugees or as holders of
immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

-Other Agency Support

Other agency support for the mission seems superb, to the
extent that Ambassador is able to judge in her brief tenure
thus far. The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) has been on the ground only since July of 2003. It
is in the process of managing a development assistance
program of more than $30 million in the areas of education,
health, and food security, while also recruiting staff and
re-defining office space to meet its operational needs. The
current USAID Director arrived in February 2004. The
Security Assistance Officer, under Central Command (CENTCOM)
and Department of Defense (DOD) auspices, is working closely
with the Ambassador and has excellent ties with Djibouti's
military. In addition, a Naval Criminal Investigative
Service (NCIS) officer has been thoroughly integrated into
Embassy operations, including serving as back-up to our
Regional Security Officer. The NCIS officer is also the
Embassy's vital liaison with Camp Lemonier and the Combined
Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa stationed in Djibouti.
RAGSDALE