Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO565
2006-05-16 12:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

MOZAMBIQUE: ACOTA TRAINING PLANNED FOR JULY; GRM

Tags:  KPKO PGOV PREL MZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6239
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHTO #0565 1361248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161248Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5384
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHTO/USDAO MAPUTO MZ
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
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

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.
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