CJTF-HOA AND MULTINATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 001117 SIPDIS FOR AF, AF/E, AF/RA, AND PM E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL PTER DJ SUBJECT: CJTF-HOA AND MULTINATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM REF: SECSTATE 201886 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Ambassador conveyed to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on November 6 reftel guidance on CJTF-HOA's interest in multi-nationalization of its operations. Youssouf did not comment on substance of the U.S. proposal, but said he believed this subject was also raised in the base lease agreement now under negotiation. (Comment: Youssouf, who received a copy of the draft lease agreement from Olhaye, is likely referring to paragraph 3 which states that the U.S. shall seek Djibouti's approval to conduct new activities no less than 45 days in advance of start of the activity. End comment) Ambassador handed Youssouf a copy (in English) of reftel talking points as a non-paper, and promised an informal French translation within two days for his use with other officials. Youssouf expressed his appreciation and said he would wait for the French version, which we subsequently sent to him. ¶2. (C) On November 8, Ambassador and USLO conveyed the same non-paper, in both French and English, to General Fathi Ahmed Hussein, Chief of Djibouti's Armed Forces and his Deputy, General Zakariya Cheick Ibrahim during a meeting at Djiboutian military headquarters. Fathi and Zakariya had several questions on how the added presence would work, who would be the donor nations, and what specifically the donor individuals would do. Ambassador explained that CJTF-HOA anticipated bilateral agreements between the donor governments and Djibouti to cover administrative aspects of the multi-national presence. As for activities, these would include maritime security and counter-terrorism training, engineering, and civil-military operations. When asked who would have responsibility for the donor individuals under the plan, Ambassador said she understood this issue would be worked out between Djibouti and the respective governments involved. General Fathi commented that if CJTF-HOA is inviting people into Camp Lemonier, then CJTF-HOA must have responsibility for these individuals. ¶3. (C) Ambassador left with General Fathi non-papers, in French and English and derived from reftel, for the General's and subsequently the Defense Minister's review. She told General Fathi that she would await Djibouti's official reply. RAGSDALE