AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW DES-PADS

UNCLAS ABUJA 000689 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MASS KPKO NI XY ECOWAS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW DES-PADS ¶1. Ambassador called on the Colonel Mahamane Toure, the new Deputy Executive Secretary for Political Affairs, Defense, and Security at ECOWAS. Also in attendance were the DATT, PolMilOff, and a EUCOM J5 officer. ¶2. The cordial meeting offered the Ambassador an opportunity to express the importance of the relationship with ECOWAS to the USG and to offer opportunities for increased engagement. The Ambassador discussed opportunities for US-funded training, such as IMET, for officers rotating into the ECOWAS Mission Planning and Management Cell, and stressed that early identification of these officers would allow enough time to provide training to these officers prior to their arrival at ECOWAS. The EUCOM J5 officer discussed finding an opportunity, possibly in late summer, to bring Toure to EUCOM. ¶3. When asked about his goals during his tenure as DES- PADS, Colonel Toure said that he did not yet have enough of a feel for the position to make a commitment to goals. Right now, he said, he was relying on the experience of his subordinates to guide him through his job as he continues to familiarize himself with the issues and personalities involved. ¶4. Background: Colonel Toure replaces the late Major General Diarra, who died in crash of Bellview 210. ECOWAS has decided to move to a commission structure, and has placed a freeze on most hiring until the new staffing patterns are finalized, but made an exception for the DES- PADS position given the importance of the portfolio. Colonel Toure was offered his new position following the ECOWAS summit in Niamey in January, and assumed duties in mid-February. CAMPBELL