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