ACOTA: TANZANIA EAGER FOR TRAINING CONFERENCE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 001564

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

ACOTA FOR CBECK AND JSEVOLD; AF/E FOR BYODER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016
TAGS: MASS KPKO KTIA TZ
SUBJECT: ACOTA: TANZANIA EAGER FOR TRAINING CONFERENCE AND
AGAIN SIGNALS INTEREST IN DEPLOYING TO PEACEKEEPING
OPERATION

REF: A. DAR ES SALAAM 01309

B. DAR ES SALAAM 01282

C. DAR ES SALAAM 01260

D. DAR ES SALAAM 01533

Classified By: CDA D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) SUMMARY: Tanzania is eager to move ahead to the
first substantive step in the African Contingency Operations
Training and Assistance (ACOTA) partnership, the Training
Strategy Conference (TSC). The Tanzania People's Defence
Forces (TPDF) suggested an early November time frame for the
TSC, and continued their push for equipment through the ACOTA

SIPDIS
program. In a September 8 meeting with John Sevold, ACOTA
Regional Director, the TPDF made some novel suggestions such
as armored personnel carrier (APC) training and combining
ACOTA and Natural Fire exercises. More importantly, the TPDF
once again signaled its interest in deploying to a
peacekeeping operation in Lebanon. This interest was
underscored with greater urgency by the Defense Minister in a
subsequent meeting when he asked the Defense Attache for
accelerated training for a Lebanon deployment. The TPDF is
also receptive to negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA) and requests draft language as soon as possible. END
SUMMARY

ACOTA and TSC presented
--------------

2. (U) Sevold told TPDF officials the USG offers ACOTA as a
model which our partners can mold and vary according to their
needs and preferences. Sevold noted ACOTA's objective is to
assist Tanzania to develop indigenous capacity to train
peacekeeping troops and to leave Tanzania with transferable
items and skills, such as their own trainers. All agreed
that Tanzania is ready to begin and that the likely next step
is the TSC. Sevold described the two-week TSC as a common
first step involving 20 to 30 Tanzanian decision-makers and
facilitated by USG contractors. In the first week, parties
discuss the philosophy of training and resources and project
where they would like their peacekeeping program to be in a
few years' time. The second week allows for a sub-group of
attendees to draft a Strategic Training Action Plan (STAP)
outlining how to attain their goals as a troop-contributing
country.

Deployment and Equipment: The chicken and the egg
-------------- --------------

3. (C) Major General Semfuko asked about ACOTA equipment
packages and noted that some equipment would not be useful,
such as uniforms which the TPDF already has and maintains.
Sevold reassured Semfuko that the equipment package can be
tailored, within the same value range, to suit the needs of
the partner. When TPDF officials pressed for more
substantive equipment such as APCs, DATT Varhola noted that
countries that have committed to a specific deployment
receive priority for equipment distribution. Semfuko
commented that this created a chicken-and-the-egg dilemma of
which comes first, equipment or commitment to deploy.
Ambassador Mulamula outlined the decision-making process
regarding troop deployment as beginning with the MFA
receiving a request to participate, the military providing
technical advice regarding their capability and the
commander-in-chief having the final say. When PolMilOff
asked if the GOT was waiting to receive a request, Mulamula
said the GOT has seen the need of having a stand-by
peacekeeping force. Semfuko said that even though Sudanese
President General Bashir "wants us (the African Union) out at
the end of the month, we believe we can take part in Lebanon.
Why not?"

Timing: TSC and beyond
--------------

4. (U) Semfuko said that October was not a good time for
the TSC due in part to the visit of General Ward near the end
of the month. Semfuko said he would consult his bosses
regarding a November TSC and get back to DATT Varhola on that
point. Semfuko inquired about the time frame of the ACOTA
program in general. Sevold replied that the goal of training
three battalions could be achieved, in theory, in less than
one year, but that it usually occurs over a period of 18
months. Sevold added that ACOTA offers sustainment training
thereafter, such as surveying and replacing equipment
packages.

The Bill: Who pays for what
--------------

5. (U) Regarding the cost of the TSC, Sevold said that the
TPDF would be expected to provide transportation to the venue
and any accommodation for non-local participants. Sevold


said ACOTA can pay for the conference venue and daytime
meals, and noted that the second week of the TSC is
customarily held at a military facility in order to provide
access to officials who can answer any questions of the STAP
drafters. Beyond the TSC, Sevold noted that staff training
requires the TPDF to provide classroom-style infrastructure
and field training requires field rations for TPDF soldiers
and the use of some TPDF vehicles, rolling stock and
individuals' weapons. Sevold added that the TPDF is asked to
use its own ammunition for any live-fire exercises undertaken
but that ACOTA can reimburse the TPDF for the cost of that
ammunition.

SOFA
--------------

6. (C) All officials were receptive to negotiating a SOFA
and requested draft language regarding the legal and
procedural framework as soon as possible. DATT Varhola
recommended moving forward on this, possibly producing an
agreement in time for General Ward to participate in its
announcement during his visit in late October. TPDF
officials suggested the SOFA be discussed in the TSC but
recognized that it is not ACOTA-specific.

Beyond-the-box thinking
--------------

7. (C) Semfuko noted that the syllabus should be compatible
with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations' (UNDPKO) program and instructions and Sevold
confirmed that it was. TPDF officials pressed for APCs, or
at least training in their operation and suggested combining
ACOTA training with the next Natural Fire exercise, scheduled
for 2008.

Interlocutors
--------------

8. (U) Sevold met with the following TPDF officials at
their headquarters:

Major General Hamis R. Semfuko, Chief of Operations and
Training;
Brigadier General E.S. Mwakisunga, Deputy Chief of Operations;
Colonel F.K. Ileti, JAG Officer and Advisor to the Ministry
of Defence;
Colonel Y.H Lyellu, Commandant of the Peacekeeping Training
Center;
Lieutenant Colonel Narsis Lubamba, Military Intelligence
Officer;
Major J.J. Fulla, Aide de Camp to Major General Semfuko; and
Lieutenant S.M. Mangure, Defense Foreign Liaison
Representative.

Sevold also outbriefed Ambassador Pastor Ngaiza, Director of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) Department of Europe
and the Americas, and Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Director
of the MFA's Multilateral Department. DATT and PolMilOff
attended meetings for the Embassy.

COMMENT
--------------

9. (C) GOT officials are ready to begin the technical work
of being an ACOTA partner. GOT officials did not balk at the
financial and in-kind expectations of them and their
questions conveyed thoughtful consideration of the program
and led to new ideas. Semfuko's allusion to participation in
Lebanon builds on comments by President Kikwete and MFA
officials (reftels A-C). Defense Minister Juma Kapuya
repeated this interest with greater clarity and urgency in a
meeting with DATT on September 18, asking for an accelerated
timetable for ACOTA training in order to allow a deployment
to Lebanon. President Kikwete earlier had signaled
Tanzania's interest in participating in a U.N. peacekeeping
mission in Darfur (reftel D). In short, there is keen
interest here in moving forward not only on training, but on
actual deployment to a peacekeeping operation.

10. (U) John Sevold has cleared this cable.
DELLY