MOZAMBIQUE: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MOZAMBICAN ACOTA

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000909 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR PM/PPA (RMORAN),AF/RSA/ACOTA (SFISHER) AND AF/S (HTREGER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR PGOV PREL MZ ACOTA SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MOZAMBICAN ACOTA SHORTCOMINGS WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. Not for internet distribution. ¶2. (U) Ambassador and Defense Attache met July 25 with Minister of Defense Dai, Chief of the Armed Forces General Lidimo, and Defense Foreign Liaison Officer Brigadier General De Castro for the formal accreditation of the Defense Attache. The Ambassador used this opportunity to discuss shortcomings in Mozambican participation in the recent ACOTA training. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador complimented the Minister on Mozambique's performance in regional Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) and the high level of participation in earlier phases of the ACOTA program, but noted that the training was now at risk because of the poor support provided during the Peace Support Operations Field Training exercise, the capstone course of the five-phase ACOTA program. The Ambassador noted that the low number of troops that participated (approximately 200 of an expected 500-700) and the absence of the Mozambican trainer cadre, who are to conduct future iterations jointly with the ACOTA contractors, were of particular concern. The Ambassador provided the Minister with a written summary of what support had been agreed on with FADM beforehand, what the shortcomings were, and what the minimal requirements for the next ACOTA iteration would be. ¶4. (SBU) Minister Dai assured the Ambassador that the Armed Forces of Mozambique (FADM) would meet the support requirements and asked the Defense Attache to provide a schedule of the next planned ACOTA training (to begin in early August). The Minister stated that any difficulties encountered in the future should be identified to him through the Defense Foreign Liaison Officer, and if necessary directly to General Lidimo. ¶5. (SBU) Minister Dai used this opportunity to remind the Ambassador that Mozambique was forming a unit that would be dedicated to PKO, but that this unit was in need of equipment and vehicles that the Government of Mozambique could not currently provide. The Minister stated that he hoped the United States would supply at least some of the required items. The Ambassador responded that ACOTA was the primary program for providing support to these units, but that she would explore what if any additional assistance may be available in the future under the Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative (GPOI). The Ambassador stressed that any future assistance to Mozambique in this area would be dependent on the successful completion of the ACOTA program, including providing the required logistical and manpower support. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: It was clear that the Minister viewed PKO training as important to the future of the FADM and desires U.S. support for the proposed unit dedicated to PKO. His assurances that the required support will be given can probably be accepted at face value, and with the Chief of Defense present during the discussion, will definitely be transmitted to the FADM. End Comment. La Lime