TANZANIA UNDERLINES INTEREST IN DEPLOYING

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 001730 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/E FOR BYODER; AF/RSA FOR M BITTRICK AND CBECK IO/UNP FOR DVANBRANDT AND BHARRIS USUN FOR EBRUNO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PGOV TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA UNDERLINES INTEREST IN DEPLOYING PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON AS MIL-TO-MIL RELATIONS GATHER MOMENTUM REF: DAR ES SALAAM 01564 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Tanzania's Defense Minister has warmly welcomed recent developments in the U.S.-Tanzania mil-to-mil relationship, including the latest timeline for ACOTA training, deployment of a CJTF-HOA civil affairs team to Tanzania, the reintroduction of IMET training, and the offer of several new seats for Tanzanian officers at U.S. military academies. The Defense Minister reiterated Tanzania's interest in deploying to peacekeeping operations in both Lebanon and Darfur, saying President Kikwete wants to see the Lebanon deployment happen before the end of the year. END SUMMARY Lebanon: "The boss wants it immediately" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Defense Minister Kapuya told Charge d'Affaires October 4 that President Kikwete had committed Tanzania to sending 60 military police (MPs) to Lebanon during his September visit to the United States. The Defense Advisor to Tanzania's mission to the United Nations is traveling to Dar es Salaam in order to discuss the particulars, including selection criteria and timing of deployment. Kapuya expects the MPs could be deployed in late October or in November 2006 because "the boss wants it (done) immediately." Given the urgency of such a deployment, Major General Hamis R. Semfuko, Chief of Operations and Training, told Charge the TPDF would confirm shortly the exact dates for the ACOTA Training Strategy Conference which was slated for early November (reftel). Darfur deployment under consideration -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Kapuya said Tanzania is interested in participating in a United Nations peacekeeping operation (PKO) to Darfur with three conditions: Sudan's approval of the mission; equipment; and allowances which the GOT believes should be the responsibility of the UN. The Charge said in most cases a standard equipment package would accompany a deployment to such a critical peacekeeping operation which could be tailored to Tanzania's specific needs. Training opportunities eagerly received -------------- ¶4. (U) Kapuya was especially pleased to learn that International Military Education and Training (IMET) would be reopened to Tanzania in 2007. Kapuya emphasized Tanzania's desire to be a leader in the region on security issues, citing its chairmanship of the Southern Africa Development Community's (SADC) Defense and Security Committee as an important responsibility. Kapuya welcomed the invitation for the Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF) to nominate three individuals for four-year scholarships to the Air Force, Navy and/or Military academies as well as two scholarships to the Coast Guard Academy. Kapuya said these opportunities lead to creating a more efficient military that can live up to its international commitments. HIV/AIDS Technical Advisory Committee created -------------- ¶5. (U) The Charge reminded Kapuya of the USG's commitment of USD five million over five years to fight HIV/AIDS in the Tanzanian military. Embassy's Defense Attache, Laura Varhola, stressed that the naming of a national HIV/AIDS coordinator would streamline the efficient distribution of funds. A member of the Minister's staff said the TPDF is forming a technical advisory committee (TAC) for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Stationed at TPDF headquarters, this committee will work with a technical working group consisting of specialists in preventive services, curative services and blood transfusion. The committee is expected to be functioning on or about October 25 and the head of the TAC will be the focal point for programs to combat HIV/AIDS in the military. Civil Affairs Team -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Kapuya welcomed the Charge's proposal for deployment of a CJTF-HOA civil affairs team to the Tanga region which would cooperate closely with the TPDF in implementing small-scale humanitarian projects (wells, clinics and schools). Major General Semfuko said the TPDF would welcome assistance from the team in developing its own civil affairs capacity. The Charge also extended an invitation for Kapuya and Chief of Defense Forces, General George Waitara, to visit the U.S.S. Eisenhower for an overnight visit in Djibouti October 31 to November 1, and underlined the importance of an upcoming December workshop on creating a national CT "fusion" center. RETZER