MOZAMBIQUE: ACOTA TRAINING PLANNED FOR JULY; GRM

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000565 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR HTREGER AND AF/RSA/ACOTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: ACOTA TRAINING PLANNED FOR JULY; GRM SEEKS TO CONTINUE PROGRAM REF: A. MAPUTO MZ 111611Z MAY 06 ¶B. MAPUTO 271 ¶C. MAPUTO MZ 221318Z SEP 05 ¶1. (U) Summary: In late April ACOTA Program Representative John Sevold met with senior Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) leadership to conduct planning for the upcoming iteration of ACOTA training in Mozambique. Sevold also met with the Minister of Defense and senior ministry officials to discuss Mozambique's overall peace support operations training plans and requirements for the near term. Though Mozambique continues to struggle with logistical issues, the GRM is eager to take a more active role in PKOs. ACOTA has been a key initiative in advancing this objective, and Post encourages the Department's continued support of the ACOTA program in Mozambique. End Summary. ¶2. (U) ACOTA Program Representative John Sevold visited Mozambique April 27-30 to conduct planning for the next session of ACOTA peace keeping operations (PKO) training in Mozambique. Accompanied by Poloff and DATT, on April 27 Sevold met with senior FADM leadership in order to plan for the upcoming iteration of ACOTA Peace Support Operations Soldier Skills Training (PSOSST),which is a follow-on to the battalion command staff training sessions conducted in February (ref B). At FADM's request, the PSOSST will be preceded by a three day "train the trainer" seminar designed to enhance the FADM instructor cadre's ability to conduct the PSOSST with minimal assistance from ACOTA training staff. This two-part ACOTA training iteration is scheduled to begin on July 10 at the military base in Boane, and will involve approximately 250 field soldiers in the PSOSST training exercise. ¶3. (U) On April 28 a subsequent meeting was held with Minister of Defense Tobias Dai and senior ministry officials to discuss FADM's current PKO capabilities, as well as its needs for the near future. During the meeting, Minister Dai stated he was very pleased with ACOTA and reiterated the GRM's wish to see this important bilateral program continue in Mozambique. He also expressed the desire to see ACOTA expand into military observer training, stating that Mozambique was eager to build a substantial and well-trained corps of military observers within FADM (Note: Mozambique recently sent a 10-man police contingent to Darfur and has previously sent observers to Comoros, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Additionally, Minister Dai restated Mozambique's plans to establish a fully-trained PKO capable battalion of approximately 700 officers and staff based in Moamba, the site of FADM's future PKO garrison and training center (ref C). He did caution, however, that present logistical constraints preclude FADM from contributing more than one company (approximately 200 soldiers) to international peace support operations. Minister Dai stated that although FADM has the human resources to contribute more soldiers, it does not possess the equipment to support an entire PKO battalion. Though not explicitly stated, it is also known that Mozambique would require strategic lift support in order to participate in any given operation (refs). ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The ACOTA program is arguably one of Post's most successful bilateral programs in Mozambique. Not only has it had a net positive effect of the FADM's capabilities as a PKO force (ref A),it has also proved to be an important diplomatic tool in building influence with the GRM. The program's success has been noted repeatedly by high-level GRM officials from the Minister of Defense to President Guebuza himself. It is clear that Mozambique has the desire to take its place on the regional PKO stage, but it will need continued external assistance like that of ACOTA in order to turn its resolve into action. Post encourages the Department to continue its support of this key program beyond the planned July 2006 training iteration. End Comment. ¶6. (U) This message was cleared by ACOTA Program Representative John Sevold. La Lime