GUINEA-BISSAU: SECURITY SECTOR REFORM WILL TOP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 002517 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/RSA, AF/EPS, S/P AND AF/W ACCRA FOR USAID/WA PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA LONDON FOR POL - AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: MARR EAID PINS PREL PU UK SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: SECURITY SECTOR REFORM WILL TOP AGENDA AT ROUND TABLE Classified By: Charge Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Guinea-Bissau is hoping to raise over USD 350 million at the donor,s round table in November for a sweeping security sector reform and poverty reduction program. Indications from potential donors are that pledges will fall far short. The United Kingdom has provided technical experts to assist a committee of Government and civil society representatives in drafting a security sector reform plan. The British expert found a good conceptual plan that lacks details, a fractured political system and some tense relationships among key players. The United States should continue to support capacity building in the National Assembly. END SUMMARY. BRITS RE-START PROCESS -------------- ¶2. (C) The United Kingdom has provided security sector reform technical experts to the GOGB to help it define concepts and organize itself for the development of a complete plan to be presented at the Geneva donor,s conference, November 7-8. The technical committee drafting the paper and the ministerial oversight committee are comprised of only Bissau-Guineans. A committee of diplomats and international organizations in Bissau provides input. The lead expert from the UK,s Security Sector Development Advisory Team, Chris Goostrey, returned for a third visit to Bissau, Sept. 25-Oct. 6, to help the committee get back on track after approximately six months of no work due to a salary dispute. ¶3. (C) When he arrived, Goostrey found a document fully geared toward the armed forces with little thought given to the details of implementation. He worked to include stakeholders from the Justice and Interior Ministries for a more inclusive approach to security sector reform. He noted significant opposition from Defense Minister Helder Proenca to the re-orientation and also noted general mistrust between Prime Minister Aristides Gomes and perhaps the most important individual in the process, Armed Forces Chief Major General Batista Tagme Na Waie. ¶4. (C) Goostrey notes that armed forces are still organized like a guerrilla organization ill-suited to security realities, but General Tagme recognizes that reform is needed. Some changes have already happened, including a new policy of conscription and the replacement of two staff chiefs. The new Army Chief of Staff is Col. Mamadu Ture and the new Air Force Chief is Brigadier General Antonio Gomes. ¶5. (C) Goostrey noted that political parties and civil society are still disorganized and weak in contributing to the security sector reform agenda and in general. The backwardness of political parties is reflected in the National Popular Assembly (ANP),which is routinely ignored and treated with contempt by the military and Government alike. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Most observers believe Tagme is sincere in his desire for security sector reform, but in fact, he missed the chance to show his resolve to prospective donors at a GOGB-sponsored pre-donor,s conference meeting in Bissau Oct. 5. A host of key Ministers were present including the Prime Minister and Ministers of Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Defense, but not Tagme or any of his staff. A significant number of potential, no-presence donors, including Canada, India and Turkey attended the meeting as did we. ¶7. (C) Goostrey,s findings on the poor state of political parties and the ANP are consistent with post,s previous reporting. For the parties, politics is a zero-sum power game with little real dialogue and almost no concept of basic democratic concepts such as consulting with constituents, developing legislative initiatives, and overseeing Government expenditures. Embassy again urges that the Department support the National Democratic Institute,s capacity DAKAR 00002517 002 OF 002 building program with the ANP which will end in December if we are not able to assure additional funding by October 31. END COMMENT. JACKSON