Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRETORIA5017
2006-12-14 04:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE MILITARY TRAINING IN CAR
how-toVZCZCXRO4642 RR RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSA #5017/01 3480431 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 140431Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7289 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1972 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0079 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1896 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1091 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0222 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0974 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0212 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0317
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 005017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C M. ASHRAF, AF/S M. TABLER-STONE
PARIS FOR G. D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CT SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE MILITARY TRAINING IN CAR
REF: A. IIR 6-880-0037-07
B. TRENKLE-PANOS EMAIL OF 12/11/2006
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Catherine Kay. Reasons 1.4(b
) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 005017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C M. ASHRAF, AF/S M. TABLER-STONE
PARIS FOR G. D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CT SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE MILITARY TRAINING IN CAR
REF: A. IIR 6-880-0037-07
B. TRENKLE-PANOS EMAIL OF 12/11/2006
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Catherine Kay. Reasons 1.4(b
) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: South Africa plans to provide military
training and technical assistance to the Government of the
Central African Republic (CAR). Minister of Defense Lekota
traveled to Bangui December 8 to discuss the possible
military training program. A SANDF military team departed
for CAR December 13 to assess training needs and timing. We
believe South Africa views the proposed assistance as a way
to promote stability in central Africa, as well as advance
their commercial mining interests in CAR. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Director
Carol Rath (protect) told PolOff December 12 that Minister of
Defense Mosiuoa Lekota traveled to Bangui December 8 to meet
with CAR President Francois Bozize and military officials.
Rath said that Bozize had requested South African military
support, and that South Africa agreed to provide military
training and technical assistance. A small military team,
led by RADM Philip Schoultz, traveled to Bangui December 13
to assess training options and timing (Ref A).
3. (C) Rath said that South Africa's assistance is a tangible
way to express support for an elected government that has
made "progress." According to the Sunday Independent
newspaper, Lekota said that South Africa was seeking to
"bring stability" to CAR and its neighboring countries (Ref
B). Rath emphasized that Pretoria is providing the
assistance in the context of its bilateral Cooperation
Agreement with CAR, which was signed in April 2006 during
President Bozize's working visit to Pretoria. She also said
that South Africa is responding to the African Union's
request to members to support the elected CAR government.
4. (C) In addition to the proposed military training, South
Africa recently donated USD 250,000 to the CAR Government to
"clear international arrears," according to Rath (NFI). The
African Development Bank is coordinating the effort to
relieve CAR's debt burden.
5. (SBU) South Africa's commercial interests in the CAR
include a uranium mine, owned by the firm UraMin Inc., which
opened in October. The diamond giant DeBeers holds
concessions in the CAR, but these sites are not active
because of the tense security situation. South Africa does
not have an embassy in Bangui, but rather covers the country
from Yaounde.
6. (C) Independent Newspaper editor Hans Pienaar, who
traveled with Lekota to Bangui, told PolOff December 13 that
the South African mission asked detailed questions about
military barracks, the number of female recruits, uniforms,
and equipment, suggesting that they planned a robust military
training program. Pienaar said that Lekota stressed that
South Africa would not provide lethal military equipment or
supplies, but did not exclude the possibility of commercial
sales of such equipment. Pienaar believes that South Africa
is motivated by a desire to stabilize CAR, protect Africa's
image, and advance their commercial interests. He noted that
the rebels control parts of the diamond mining area.
7. (C) Institute for Security Studies analyst Henri Boshoff
told PolOff December 13 that the French were not happy with
the South African initiative -- since they regard CAR as
their area of influence -- but both Pretoria and Paris are
now making efforts to coordinate.
8. (C) COMMENT: We agree that the South African Government
views the proposed military training program in CAR, as well
as its cash donation, as ways to help stabilize the fragile
central African country. Stability in this region is
important to South Africa's interests. Pretoria devoted
enormous resources to conflict resolution in DRC and Sudan,
and the last thing Pretoria wants is another conflict or coup
in the region. South Africa's mining interests, while not
PRETORIA 00005017 002 OF 002
the dominant factor, no doubt played a role in the SAG
decision to become involved in CAR. END COMMENT.
BOST
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C M. ASHRAF, AF/S M. TABLER-STONE
PARIS FOR G. D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR CT SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE MILITARY TRAINING IN CAR
REF: A. IIR 6-880-0037-07
B. TRENKLE-PANOS EMAIL OF 12/11/2006
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Catherine Kay. Reasons 1.4(b
) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: South Africa plans to provide military
training and technical assistance to the Government of the
Central African Republic (CAR). Minister of Defense Lekota
traveled to Bangui December 8 to discuss the possible
military training program. A SANDF military team departed
for CAR December 13 to assess training needs and timing. We
believe South Africa views the proposed assistance as a way
to promote stability in central Africa, as well as advance
their commercial mining interests in CAR. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Director
Carol Rath (protect) told PolOff December 12 that Minister of
Defense Mosiuoa Lekota traveled to Bangui December 8 to meet
with CAR President Francois Bozize and military officials.
Rath said that Bozize had requested South African military
support, and that South Africa agreed to provide military
training and technical assistance. A small military team,
led by RADM Philip Schoultz, traveled to Bangui December 13
to assess training options and timing (Ref A).
3. (C) Rath said that South Africa's assistance is a tangible
way to express support for an elected government that has
made "progress." According to the Sunday Independent
newspaper, Lekota said that South Africa was seeking to
"bring stability" to CAR and its neighboring countries (Ref
B). Rath emphasized that Pretoria is providing the
assistance in the context of its bilateral Cooperation
Agreement with CAR, which was signed in April 2006 during
President Bozize's working visit to Pretoria. She also said
that South Africa is responding to the African Union's
request to members to support the elected CAR government.
4. (C) In addition to the proposed military training, South
Africa recently donated USD 250,000 to the CAR Government to
"clear international arrears," according to Rath (NFI). The
African Development Bank is coordinating the effort to
relieve CAR's debt burden.
5. (SBU) South Africa's commercial interests in the CAR
include a uranium mine, owned by the firm UraMin Inc., which
opened in October. The diamond giant DeBeers holds
concessions in the CAR, but these sites are not active
because of the tense security situation. South Africa does
not have an embassy in Bangui, but rather covers the country
from Yaounde.
6. (C) Independent Newspaper editor Hans Pienaar, who
traveled with Lekota to Bangui, told PolOff December 13 that
the South African mission asked detailed questions about
military barracks, the number of female recruits, uniforms,
and equipment, suggesting that they planned a robust military
training program. Pienaar said that Lekota stressed that
South Africa would not provide lethal military equipment or
supplies, but did not exclude the possibility of commercial
sales of such equipment. Pienaar believes that South Africa
is motivated by a desire to stabilize CAR, protect Africa's
image, and advance their commercial interests. He noted that
the rebels control parts of the diamond mining area.
7. (C) Institute for Security Studies analyst Henri Boshoff
told PolOff December 13 that the French were not happy with
the South African initiative -- since they regard CAR as
their area of influence -- but both Pretoria and Paris are
now making efforts to coordinate.
8. (C) COMMENT: We agree that the South African Government
views the proposed military training program in CAR, as well
as its cash donation, as ways to help stabilize the fragile
central African country. Stability in this region is
important to South Africa's interests. Pretoria devoted
enormous resources to conflict resolution in DRC and Sudan,
and the last thing Pretoria wants is another conflict or coup
in the region. South Africa's mining interests, while not
PRETORIA 00005017 002 OF 002
the dominant factor, no doubt played a role in the SAG
decision to become involved in CAR. END COMMENT.
BOST