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