USAU: CODEL MEEK MEETING WITH AFRICAN UNION PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 003495

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/FO, AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR OTRA KPKO
SUBJECT: USAU: CODEL MEEK MEETING WITH AFRICAN UNION PEACE
AND SECURITY COMMISSIONER

Classified By: Ambassador Cindy L. Courville for reasons 1.4 (B)&(D)


1. (U) This cable is from US Mission to the African Union
(USAU) Ambassador Cindy L. Courville.


2. (U) SUMMARY: On November 29 CODEL Meek met Ambassador
Said Djinnit, Commissioner for Peace and Security at the
African Union. The discussion focused on concerns about
stability, particularly in the Horn of Africa, on the
potential for instability imported from the Middle East, and
on the need for addressing poverty, investing in people,
putting in place systems of good governance, and encouraging
private investment. END SUMMARY


3. Participants: The CODEL consisted of Representative
Kendrick Meek (D-FL),Representative Michael Arcuri (D-NY),
Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Representative Tim
Ryan (D-NE). Six Congressional staffers also attended. They
were Mark Lewis, House Armed Service Committee, Stephanie
Sanok, House Armed Services Committee, Catherine Steadman,
Legislative Operations Director, House Armed Service
Committee, Jaimie Harrison, Floor Director, Majority Whip,
Catlin O'Neill, Floor Operations Director, Speaker's Office
and Frank Sobchak. USAU participants were Ambassador Cindy

L. Courville and DCM/Political-Economic Officer Alfreda E.
Meyers. AU participants were Commissioner Said Djinnit.


4. (C ) Commissioner Djinnit welcomed the meeting with CODEL
Meek as a sign of AU-US partnership and as evidence the US
recognizes Africa's strategic importance in international
affairs. CODEL members solicited Commissioner Djinnit,s
views on how the US can be helpful in supporting the AU as it
addresses issues such as economic development, humanitarian
needs, and security. In response the Commissioner
acknowledged US "sensitivity" to security and noted that in
the post 9/11 world, the US focus on global security and the
nexus of terrorism and religious extremism is understandable.
He emphasized that Africans share US security concerns, and
are looking to put together mechanisms to address conflicts.
He continued that Somalia and Sudan present major challenges,
that the Horn of Africa serves as an "open door" to the
spread of instability and possibly terrorism, and that the
turbulence in Ethiopia/Eritrea is a great worry. Djinnit
concluded the AU is focused on stabilizing the situation in
Darfur and Somalia, but is not oblivious of threats to
stability elsewhere. He emphasized that AU interest in
establishing an Early Warning system and the African Standby
Force derive from appreciation of Africa's vulnerability.
Commissioner Djinnit drew a direct link between the situation
in the Middle East and the potential for instability in
Africa, welcomed the US initiative in Annapolis, and said
resolving the Palestine question would go far in assuaging
the Muslim community's sense of marginalization and sense of
injustice.


5. (C) The CODEL asked about the amalgamation of the AU
AMIS peacekeeping force to a hybrid UNAMID force, and how AU
member states felt about non-African involvement in UNAMID.
Djinnit acknowledged a strong African position that Africans
should be empowered to address their own problems, and
emphasized that AU leadership recognized the need for
assistance from international partners, provided partners did
not try to impose solutions. He noted that in Sudan the
government did not want non-African troops, but in actuality,
the government did not want African troops either. He drew a
comparison with the initial reaction of the Somali
government, and concluded that these reactions went to the
complexity (and intractability) of both conflicts.


5. (C) Members of the CODEL asked about AU views and
initiative for long-term institution building, with
particular reference to issues of private property and the
functioning of the courts, noting that dealing with these
institutions had a direct impact on attracting private
investment for economic development. Djinnit responded the
AU is fully aware of the need for private investment and is,
in fact, promoting investment. He acknowledged land
ownership and tenure as an Africa-wide problem, and an
explosive one, and suggested that different governments were
approaching the problem differently, gingerly, and with a
long-term vision for gradual reform because the social
realities carried substantial political risks as well as the
potential for instability.


6. (U) CODEL Meek did not clear this cable before
departure.


YAMAMOTO