Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS2675
2007-08-23 13:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
SUPPORT FOR AMISOM: BELGIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002675
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR BELL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREL KPKO SO BU BE
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR AMISOM: BELGIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH
BURUNDI MILITARY - QUESTION OF BURUNDI'S CAPABILITY REMAINS
REF: A. BRUSSELS 2550
B. STATE 110195
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, reasons 4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002675
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR BELL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREL KPKO SO BU BE
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR AMISOM: BELGIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH
BURUNDI MILITARY - QUESTION OF BURUNDI'S CAPABILITY REMAINS
REF: A. BRUSSELS 2550
B. STATE 110195
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, reasons 4 b/d.
1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
para 5 below.
2. (SBU) Subsequent to Ref A, Belgium's Senior Envoy to the
Great Lakes Region Jozef Smets gave polmiloff a more thorough
and balanced view of Belgian military contributions to
Burundi.
3. (C) Smets reported on the mid-July meeting between Belgian
Minister of Defense (MOD) Andre Flahaut and Burundi MOD LTG
Germain Niyoyankana. Niyoyankana had stressed that Burundi's
precondition for participating in AMISOM was having the
necessary equipment, including tanks. "For the protection of
"our" (i.e., Burundian) troops," Smets said, quoting a
Belgian military colleague who had attended the meeting.
Nikoyanakana had reportedly confirmed Burundi's intention to
send a military contingent to AMISOM, under certain
conditions: equipment for at least one battalion was assured,
which the U.S. had promised; Nikoyankana had asked for a
similar contribution from Belgium. Smets made clear that the
Belgian government had as yet made no decision on what type
of help to provide; such an action must await the conclusion
of still continuing cabinet formation talks in Brussels.
4. (SBU) Other areas of Belgian support for Burundian
military, Smets said, include training programs: for officers
(former rebel retooling),presently in its fourth session;
management, administration, logistics, planning and medical
staff; military scholarships, training in "clearing
security"; and a possible new project in military
engineering.
5. (SBU) Smets asked what the U.S. considers the specific
urgent logistical requirements so that Burundi can field a
contingent to AMISOM, particularly from the U.S., UK and
France. (Request: Post would appreciate guidance for
responding to Smets.)
6. (C) Comment: Smets' list does not change the more frank,
earlier assessment polmiloff received (Ref A),that Burundi
was incapable of fielding a single unit, let alone a
battalion. The bottom-line question of absorbability by
Burundian military of the equipment it is reportedly
demanding from outside nations still appears, in the Belgian
point of view, unanswered. End Comment.
BUSH
.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR BELL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREL KPKO SO BU BE
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR AMISOM: BELGIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH
BURUNDI MILITARY - QUESTION OF BURUNDI'S CAPABILITY REMAINS
REF: A. BRUSSELS 2550
B. STATE 110195
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, reasons 4 b/d.
1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
para 5 below.
2. (SBU) Subsequent to Ref A, Belgium's Senior Envoy to the
Great Lakes Region Jozef Smets gave polmiloff a more thorough
and balanced view of Belgian military contributions to
Burundi.
3. (C) Smets reported on the mid-July meeting between Belgian
Minister of Defense (MOD) Andre Flahaut and Burundi MOD LTG
Germain Niyoyankana. Niyoyankana had stressed that Burundi's
precondition for participating in AMISOM was having the
necessary equipment, including tanks. "For the protection of
"our" (i.e., Burundian) troops," Smets said, quoting a
Belgian military colleague who had attended the meeting.
Nikoyanakana had reportedly confirmed Burundi's intention to
send a military contingent to AMISOM, under certain
conditions: equipment for at least one battalion was assured,
which the U.S. had promised; Nikoyankana had asked for a
similar contribution from Belgium. Smets made clear that the
Belgian government had as yet made no decision on what type
of help to provide; such an action must await the conclusion
of still continuing cabinet formation talks in Brussels.
4. (SBU) Other areas of Belgian support for Burundian
military, Smets said, include training programs: for officers
(former rebel retooling),presently in its fourth session;
management, administration, logistics, planning and medical
staff; military scholarships, training in "clearing
security"; and a possible new project in military
engineering.
5. (SBU) Smets asked what the U.S. considers the specific
urgent logistical requirements so that Burundi can field a
contingent to AMISOM, particularly from the U.S., UK and
France. (Request: Post would appreciate guidance for
responding to Smets.)
6. (C) Comment: Smets' list does not change the more frank,
earlier assessment polmiloff received (Ref A),that Burundi
was incapable of fielding a single unit, let alone a
battalion. The bottom-line question of absorbability by
Burundian military of the equipment it is reportedly
demanding from outside nations still appears, in the Belgian
point of view, unanswered. End Comment.
BUSH
.