SUPPORT FOR UGANDA SEA AND AIR DEPLOYMENT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000774

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

SIPDIS
AF/FO, AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2012
TAGS: PREL MOPS AU
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR UGANDA SEA AND AIR DEPLOYMENT TO
MOGADISHU FOR AMISOM


Classified By: AMBASSADOR CINDY L. COURVILLE, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (U) Background: Meeting with Ethiopian Defense
Minister Somora to discuss support for Ugandan air and sea
deployments to Mogadishu for AMISOM.


2. (U) Participants:
AMB Courville USAU
Ethiopian Chief of Staff, General Samora
Ugandan Ambassador Ssempala to Ethiopia
Ugandan General Nkairima
Algerian Defense Attache
Algerian Colonel Kharboub (Algerian air operations)
CAPT Couch, USAU Military Liaison
LtCol Skow, DAO Uganda


3. (C) Status of Ugandan deployment into Mogadishu:
-- Ugandan self-deployed small number of troops on ANTOV
-- Suspension of U.S. and Algerian flights pending resolution
of security concerns surrounding last Friday,s aircraft
mishap/ fire on the contract IL-76.
-- Cause of that mishap has yet to be definitively
ascertained.
-- Agreed that measures must be in place to address a worse
case scenario while the investigation of the mishap
proceedings continues.


4. (C) Next Steps agreed to by Ethiopia, Uganda and Algeria:
-- Place Ethiopian helicopters assets in place by March 15th
to provide sector security to the waterborne approaches to
the Mogadishu airport.
-- Ethiopian helicopters will remain in place for the
duration of the remaining Ugandan deployment sorties.
-- Duration of deployment of Ethiopian helo assets dependent
on how many additional aircraft can be procured for the
remaining 4 logistic sorties this does not include the 2
Algerian air sorties for troop transport.
-- TFG establish no fishing zones in the landing approach to
the airport during sortie windows. All parties would strive
to mitigate the time period that these restrictions would be
in place.
-- AU request US provide coastal security patrols and
presence to support AMISOM.


5. (C) Current Airlift Situation:
-- There is one aircraft (IL-76) contracted for one more
sortie to Mogadishu.
-- It is estimated that 3 more logistic sorties are required.
With one aircraft that could be up to 3 days for the three
sorties that are ready.
-- The fourth sortie will not be ready until the 21st of
March at the earliest (two water tankers are being built in
Uganda and won,t be ready until the 21st).
-- In order to conduct the three logistic flights faster and
in order to minimize the use of the Ethiopian helo assets we
would have to get an additional IL-76.
-- With two IL-76 available the three sorties might be able
to land all in the same day.


6. (C) Estimated Costs for additional sorties:
-- 3 additional sorties estimated at $225k
-- 1 additional aircraft ) placement fee at $130k
-- Total expense $355k additional to original estimates, or
only 225k if the second IL-76 is not called in.
-- Pre-positioning fee of 130K for the fourth sortie due on
or about 21 March 2007.


7. (C) Ugandan Maritime Logistics Lift With Surface RO/RO:
-- Ugandan maritime logistics lift with surface RO/RO
scheduled to be underway from Mombassa, Kenya on 15 March and
ETA Mogadishu 17 March.
-- There is concern on security for this high value target
while in transit.
-- The Kenyans have promised escort from Mombassa port to end
of Kenyan territorial waters. PSC Commissioner Djinnit is
re-approaching the Kenyans to push for escort of vessels all
the way to Mogadishu.
-- No escort or security envisioned from that point to
Mogadishu pier side.


8. (C) Way Forward:
-- US secure funding for additional sorties.
-- US provide security to this maritime asset from Kenyan
hand off to pier side.

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-- Provide for littoral security in the Mogadishu harbor area
during vessel unloading and then escort out of the harbor
area.
-- US support to AMISOM is time sensitive to prevent
targeting of Ugandan ship which could lead to collapse of
entire Somalia Peace Process.
-- US failure to provide maritime security will result in
media and Congressional backlash.
-- Ugandan Ambassador to Ethiopia has spoken directly to
Congressman Payne who will be contacting the State Department
immediately to request that USG provide maritime security to
AMISOM.
-- Request that maritime security support be authorized
immediately to escort Ugandan vessel due to depart on March
15th.

COURVILLE
YAMAMOTO