Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO271
2006-03-04 07:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
MOZAMBIQUE: THIRD ACOTA TRAINING ITERATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTO #0271 0630739 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 040739Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5067 INFO RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1273 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHTO/USDAO MAPUTO MZ RHMFITT/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000271
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR AF/S HTREGER, AF/RSA/ACOTA AND EUR/WE NFETCHKO
DAO LISBON FOR RVILLALOBOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: THIRD ACOTA TRAINING ITERATION
COMPLETED; INTEREST IN FUTURE PROGRAMS REMAINS HIGH
REF: A. MAPUTO 67
B. 05 MAPUTO 909
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000271
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR AF/S HTREGER, AF/RSA/ACOTA AND EUR/WE NFETCHKO
DAO LISBON FOR RVILLALOBOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: THIRD ACOTA TRAINING ITERATION
COMPLETED; INTEREST IN FUTURE PROGRAMS REMAINS HIGH
REF: A. MAPUTO 67
B. 05 MAPUTO 909
1. (SBU) The African Contingency Operations and Training
Assistance (ACOTA) program successfully concluded its third
training iteration in Mozambique on February 24. A battalion
staff, including the commander and over 30 staff and senior
non-commissioned officers, participated in the seven-week
peace keeping operations (PKO) training program.
Approximately 20 Mozambican Defense Forces (FADM)
instructors, assisted by a small team of ACOTA trainers,
conducted the training, which consisted of four classroom
modules. A three-man team of mentors from EUCOM, led by
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Jackson, participated in the
two-week Command Post and Computer Assisted Command Post
Exercises (CPX/CAX) from February 13 to 24. On February 21
Portuguese Defense Attache Colonel Pinelo accompanied US
Defense Attache Major Jones to the training site to observe
the CAX module. Colonel Pinelo stated he was impressed by
the level and sophistication of instruction, and indicated he
would report as much to Lisbon.
2. (U) This classroom-only ACOTA session followed two
complete, five-phase ACOTA training iterations held
April-July 2005 and August-November 2005, respectively. Two
separate composite PKO battalions, numbering approximately
600 soldiers and officers in total, received PKO skills
training, including Peace Support Operations (PSO) Soldier
Skills Field Training. Despite initial shortcomings in FADM
participation and some logistical hiccups (ref B),both the
FADM and Post were pleased with the ultimate success of the
training program. Interest in the program remains high and
FADM has been clear in conveying its hope that additional
iterations of the ACOTA will follow in the near future.
Planning is currently underway for an AOCTA program office
visit to discuss future training iterations.
3. (SBU) Comment: ACOTA has been a very high-profile program
for the USG in Mozambique. It has the attention of the
Minister of Defense as well as President Guebuza, both of
whom hope to see Mozambique emerge as a true PKO player in
the region. Mozambican forces were deployed in Burundi
between October 2003 and December 2005, and there are reports
that a 50-man police contingent will be sent to Darfur soon.
Post also understands that the GRM is looking at other PKO
operations as well, including deployment to the Sudan under
the UN and participation in the SADC Standby Brigade.
However logistical issues will continue to make Mozambique's
participation in such operations dependent on outside
assistance (ref A).
La Lime
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR AF/S HTREGER, AF/RSA/ACOTA AND EUR/WE NFETCHKO
DAO LISBON FOR RVILLALOBOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: THIRD ACOTA TRAINING ITERATION
COMPLETED; INTEREST IN FUTURE PROGRAMS REMAINS HIGH
REF: A. MAPUTO 67
B. 05 MAPUTO 909
1. (SBU) The African Contingency Operations and Training
Assistance (ACOTA) program successfully concluded its third
training iteration in Mozambique on February 24. A battalion
staff, including the commander and over 30 staff and senior
non-commissioned officers, participated in the seven-week
peace keeping operations (PKO) training program.
Approximately 20 Mozambican Defense Forces (FADM)
instructors, assisted by a small team of ACOTA trainers,
conducted the training, which consisted of four classroom
modules. A three-man team of mentors from EUCOM, led by
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Jackson, participated in the
two-week Command Post and Computer Assisted Command Post
Exercises (CPX/CAX) from February 13 to 24. On February 21
Portuguese Defense Attache Colonel Pinelo accompanied US
Defense Attache Major Jones to the training site to observe
the CAX module. Colonel Pinelo stated he was impressed by
the level and sophistication of instruction, and indicated he
would report as much to Lisbon.
2. (U) This classroom-only ACOTA session followed two
complete, five-phase ACOTA training iterations held
April-July 2005 and August-November 2005, respectively. Two
separate composite PKO battalions, numbering approximately
600 soldiers and officers in total, received PKO skills
training, including Peace Support Operations (PSO) Soldier
Skills Field Training. Despite initial shortcomings in FADM
participation and some logistical hiccups (ref B),both the
FADM and Post were pleased with the ultimate success of the
training program. Interest in the program remains high and
FADM has been clear in conveying its hope that additional
iterations of the ACOTA will follow in the near future.
Planning is currently underway for an AOCTA program office
visit to discuss future training iterations.
3. (SBU) Comment: ACOTA has been a very high-profile program
for the USG in Mozambique. It has the attention of the
Minister of Defense as well as President Guebuza, both of
whom hope to see Mozambique emerge as a true PKO player in
the region. Mozambican forces were deployed in Burundi
between October 2003 and December 2005, and there are reports
that a 50-man police contingent will be sent to Darfur soon.
Post also understands that the GRM is looking at other PKO
operations as well, including deployment to the Sudan under
the UN and participation in the SADC Standby Brigade.
However logistical issues will continue to make Mozambique's
participation in such operations dependent on outside
assistance (ref A).
La Lime