THE NORTH AFRICAN BRIGADE OF THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND

S E C R E T TRIPOLI 000290 STATE FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/1/2015 TAGS: MARR PREL EG AG MO TS WI CA LY SUBJECT: THE NORTH AFRICAN BRIGADE OF THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND SECURITY FORCE CLASSIFIED BY: Greg Berry, Principal Officer, USLO Tripoli, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S) According to press reports, army chiefs of staff from Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and "the Western Sahara Republic," announced November 17 the creation of a joint military force. We obtained additional information about the agreement in November 29 meetings with the Egyptian Embassy and the visiting Canadian regional defense attache. ¶2. (S) The Canadian was well informed. He told us an agreement was indeed signed in Tripoli to create a North African Brigade for the African Union Peace and Security Council. Under the agreement, the Brigade would consist of two Algerian battalions, an Egyptian battalion, a Libyan battalion, an Egyptian headquarters element, and a Western Sahara reconnaissance unit (which in actuality would be run by the Algerians). Logistical bases may be located in Egypt and Algeria. The Brigade is supposed to be stood up by 2010, but both the Canadian, and the Egyptians were skeptical it will ever see the light of day. The Egyptians commented that they were in no hurry to move things forward, but confirmed that the HQ would be Egyptian. Goldrich BERRY NNNN