POSSIBLE BURUNDIAN DEPLOYMENT TO SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000265

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF AND PM; ADDIS FOR AU MISSION

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: MARR PARM PREL BY SO
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE BURUNDIAN DEPLOYMENT TO SOMALIA

REF: A. BUJUMBURA 215

B. BUJUMBURA 206

C. A/S FRAZER EMAIL 3-31-07

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Ann Breiter for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
.)


1. (U) Action Request Para 4.


2. (U) Burundi is prepared to send troops expeditiously to
Somalia in support of the African Union mission there
(AMISOM),but it recognizes it cannot do so without
substantial support. Burundi's minister of Defense, Germain
Niyonyankana, estimates that his ministry could contribute
approximately 2,000 of its armed forces to AMISOM. Burundi
has already provided potential donors an extensive list of
its needs it order to deploy (Ref A.) The Minister of
Defense has made clear that his country is counting on its
partners, particularly the United States, to ensure that it
receives the materials it needs in order to do so.


3. (C) Thus far, to our knowledge, the only concrete offer
of support has come from France, which has agreed to provide
training for the troops before they travel to Somalia. Local
representatives of other western donor nations, including
Belgium and the Netherlands, have indicated that, given the
extent of Burundi's needs, their capitals are unlikely to
support tangibly the Burundian request. A Dutch military
officer working on a medium term contract with the Ministry
of Defense told Charge on March 31 that Burundi's lengthy
list of requests -- over 20 pages long -- in fact is very
modest when compared to the Ministry's current circumstances.
He suggested that the list might be overly optimistic and
might not reflect the country's true needs for a successful
deployment.


4. (U) Action Request: The Burundian Ministry of Defense
requests U.S. military planning support to assist in
reviewing plans to deploy to Somalia in support of AMISOM.
The Embassy supports Burundi's request, as we believe that
the GOB could benefit from assistance in determining its
logistical and support requirements and in developing a
workable deployment plan.

BREITER