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