USAU PARTICIPATES IN AU MILITARY PLANNING WORKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000467

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/RSA, PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2012
TAGS: PREL KPKO MOPS AU
SUBJECT: USAU PARTICIPATES IN AU MILITARY PLANNING WORKING
GROUP FOR AMISON DEPLOYMENT - PART II

Classified By: Ambassador Cindy L. Courville, reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: On 12 FEB, Mr. Bereng Mtimkulu, Head,
Peace Support Department (PSOD) of the African Union, chaired
a military planning meeting of the &core group8 of troop
contributing countries and international donors/partners who
have formally pledged troops or financial/logistical support
to the deployment of AMISOM. The meeting was attended by
representatives from the AU, IGAD, UN, USAU (COL Rainey and
CAPT (Ret.) Cunningham),Ugandan w/LTC Skow, Algeria,
Burundi, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Somalia TFG, and Ethiopia. The
purpose of the meeting was to begin detailed planning and
coordination for the AMISOM deployment. Head, PSOD provided
situational background and planning documents, briefed the
planning requirements for AU Planning Cell augmentation, and
developed a tentative timeline to deploy the Ugandan force.


2. (C) Head, PSOD provided all representatives with
planning documents for the AMISOM deployment that had been
developed during the AU/UNDPKO planning sessions which were
conducted from 5-9 FEB 2007. Those four (4) documents were
provided earlier via unclassified email. Many delegations
appeared very surprised to be asked to begin detailed
planning for the deployment as this was their first meeting
at the AU and they had only basic information on the earlier
released deployment plan. Nigeria, Burundi, Malawi, and
Algeria requested a concept of operations and updated status
of the security situation. Uganda, USAU and several of the
other delegations requested that the AU put in place a
Strategic Planning and Management Structure. Specifically,
the representatives stated that they were awaiting the AU,s
request for planners to properly plan and execute the AMISOM
deployment. Head, PSOD discussed the lack of capacity in the
AU to plan large-scale peace support operations and the
immediate need for augmentation. He used a &draft8 note
verbale (written by USAU) that identified the required
additional planners.


3. (C) The AU PSOD Planning Element requires the following
planners: Military: Strategic/Operational Planner-2;
Military Logistics Planner-2 (with possibility of 1 deploying
to staging area); Engineering Planner-1; Training Planner-1;
Civilian Police: Strategic/Operational Planner-2; Training
Planner-1; Mission Support: Logistics Operations Planner-1;
Transport Planner-2 (one each for AIR and surface);
Medical/Medical Logistics Planner-2; Communications
Planner-1; Information Technology Planner-1; Civil
Engineering Planner-1; Aviation Planner-1; Movement Control
Planner-1; Mapping/GIS Planner-1; Supply Planner-2 (one each
for fuel and rations); Procurement Planner-1; Budget
Planner-1; and Personnel Planner-1. While the note verbale
has to be approved by the AU leadership, the planning
requirements identified, were briefed to the &core group8
and would be the basis for the international donors/partners
meeting on 13 FEB. Delegations were asked to nominate
qualified planners to the Head, PSOD for immediate
augmentation to Addis. Head, PSOD also expressed the need for
immediate donor/partner assistance for start-up funds to help
pay for planners who are unfunded.


4. (C) As a result of the concerns expressed by the troop
contributing countries for an updated and detailed assessment
of the security situation, Head, PSOD proposed that a
detailed reconnaissance to Mogadishu by the FORCE Commander
and the commanders of the TCC forces.


5. (C) Head, PSOD also stressed the need to develop a
deployment timeline. Each troop contributing country (Uganda,
Ghana, Nigeria, Burundi, and Malawi) was asked to commit to
provide names for the proposed &Commander,s Recon8 no
later than 15 FEB. The Reconnaissance would be conducted from
25-27 FEB. All of the delegations requested additional time
to consult with their capitals but agreed to try to meet the
proposed timeline. The next meeting of the Military Planning
Group (Core Group) is scheduled for 19 FEB at the AU.


6. (U) Please refer any questions/comments to COL Tim Rainey,
251-11-517-4055.

COURVILLE
WILGUS