Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04DJIBOUTI814 | 2004-06-14 11:40:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Djibouti |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000814 |
1. (U) Summary: June 6 marked the 27th anniversary of the creation of Djibouti's armed forces. On the occasion, Chief of Defense, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein, addressed the troops with remarks that raised lingering thorny issues of adequate housing, health services, compensation and promotion that continue to affect troop morale and job satisfaction in a negative way. The most controversial proposal, and the one least likely to be fully implemented, is to deduct from salaries of military personnel a set sum of nearly one-quarter of salary monthly to fund future housing. End summary. -------------------------- Post-Flooding: More Promises -------------------------- 2. (U) In his speech at the 27th anniversary celebration June 6 of the founding of Djibouti's armed forces, Chief of Defense, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein, reiterated his condolences to the members of the services who lost family members, personal effects and homes during the floods which had taken place in Djibouti two months prior, almost to the day. He said his command takes the cases of these individuals seriously and that assistance would be distributed to them "without delay." He also told the troops that "a study had been undertaken which would lay out possibilities for their re-housing," which has not yet been resolved. -------------------------- Imposed Contribution Plan -------------------------- 3. (C) Perhaps most controversial among the General's remarks during the anniversary celebration was his outline to the troops, for the first time, of a proposed plan to retain from their salaries on a monthly basis, the sum of 10,000 Djiboutian Francs (USD 56, out of an average salary of 40,000 Djiboutian Francs (USD 226) to fund, over several years, a financing plan for military housing. No other details were provided, although General Fathi remarked that implementation of the reserve funding was "on hold" until a personalized contract establishing duration and terms could be established. (Comment: Commander of French Armed Forces in Djibouti, General Gerard Pons, told Ambassador and USLO during a meeting on June 9, that this proposed plan was a shock and had stirred much grumbling from the military rank and file as soon as announced. End comment) -------------------------- Praising "Transformation" -------------------------- 4. (U) Among the list of accomplishments of the military over the past year, cited by General Fathi, were the following: -- creation of new regiments, including the Rapid Action Regiment, with added missions, including a new focus on the anti-terrorist struggle; -- increase in the capacity of the Artillery Regiment to optimize its fire power and mobility; -- enlargement of the capacity of the naval unit operating along Djibouti's maritime coasts, including equipping it with a high-speed medical motorboat to decrease evacuation time to sources of treatment; -- progress of the Demining Company and the declaration in January 2004 of Djibouti as mine-free; -- improvement of health structures of the Djibouti Armed Forces generally, for the benefit of Djibouti's citizens; -- the planned construction of a military hospital which would concentrate all military health structures into a single enclosure. According to General Fathi, this project is "under discussion" and "in design phase;" -- achievement in the future of a mixed modern garrison for officers that will also provide leisure space for the mental and physical well-being of soldiers; -- in Human Resources, continuation of training programs that currently have placed 110 trainees in 20 countries. There are also plans for additional training of pilots of aircraft and helicopters. -------------------------- -------------------------- Acknowledging Problems in Benefits and Promotions -------------------------- -------------------------- 5. (U) General Fathi spoke of a commission that "is being set up" to look at issues such as loans and death benefits for soldiers. He also told the assembled soldiers that "I am not unaware of the unease of non-commissioned officers who await formal regularization of the grading of officers. A commission will be designed, which will define methods of promotion. The thorny problem of promotion freezes will know, I hope, a happy outcome at the end of the year." General Fathi went on to say that normal promotions had been delayed but that a list of promotions would be released "before the end of the year or by the beginning of next year." -------------------------- Comment -------------------------- 6. (C) During a meeting with Ambassador in mid-April, General Fathi expressed his unhappiness with the pace of U.S. provision of defense equipment promised and in the pipeline for Djibouti under Foreign Military Financing (FMF). He sought the Ambassador's help in quickening the pace of provisioning, so that the process of acquiring equipment is shortened. In the General's words, "security cannot wait" on the slow process. He also asked for additional equipment, including a radar for joint use by the U.S. and Djiboutian militaries, and for an additional USD 100,000 annually to fund maintenance of Djibouti's Demining Company. Ambassador took advantage of the opportunity of the April 25 Chiefs of Mission Conference hosted by the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), to put Colonel Osman Nur Soubagleh, Commander of the Djiboutian Army Corps of Engineers, in contact with visiting DAS Theresa Whelan for further discussion. 7. (C) Djibouti's military has other internal problems that require priority focus. The lingering issues of promotions, benefits, and post-flood assistance for soldiers and their families are unresolved. Indeed, General Fathi has approached USLO for assistance in re-supplying the military and its troops with some of their flood losses. It will be a challenge to meet these requirements in a timely manner, even if subsequently approved. Moreover, the Armed Forces of Djibouti (FAD) are also experiencing difficulty in meeting payroll requirements. Recent cuts in a food supplement for FAD service members proved so unpopular as to cause strikes at several military bases. This new proposal to fund what many in the FAD deem to be a government obligation, is not likely to fare better. End comment. RAGSDALE |