DJIBOUTIANS TELL ADMIRAL FALLON USG PRESENCE

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 001470

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

CENTCOM FOR ADMIRAL FALLON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2022
TAGS: DJ ER ET PGOV PINR PREL PTER MASS
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTIANS TELL ADMIRAL FALLON USG PRESENCE
SPARKS GROWTH; CALL REGIONAL PEACE AND JOB TRAINING KEYS TO
STABILITY


Classified By: Ambassador W. Stuart Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) Summary: Admiral William J. Fallon, Commander,
United States Central Command, visited Djibouti December
11-12. Accompanied by the Ambassador and Combined Joint Task
Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commander Hart and staff,
Admiral Fallon met with Djiboutian Prime Minister Dileita,
with Defense Minister Ougoureh Kifleh Ahmed, and with Chief
of Defense, Major General Fathi Ahmed Houssein. He thanked
the GODJ officials for their security partnership, sought
their views on the region, and congratulated them on
Djibouti's economic progress. The Prime Minister praised the
CJTF-HOA,s role, saying much of Djibouti's growth stemmed
from international confidence underpinned by the U.S.
presence. He urged the U.S. to sustain its presence here.
The MinDef called U.S. military to military relations
"impeccable," and extolled the civil affairs work by
CJTF-HOA. He hinted that he may leave his position soon
"after eight long years." Chief of Defense Fathi agreed
relations were mutually beneficial and pitched for additional
support. He sought communications equipment, 50 caliber guns
for humvees delivered in 2005, and repairs and weapons for
recently delivered patrol boats. Admiral Fallon also met
with private sector leaders, including two prominent
Djiboutian women and the manager of a large American-led
enterprise. They told Fallon that the U.S. presence in
Djibouti was very positive and praised new investment. They
insisted that the challenge was to train Djiboutians to take
the new jobs being created so that Djibouti,s poor and
unemployed see that global outreach improves their lives.
End Summary.


2. (S/NF) On December 12, Admiral Fallon met with Djiboutian
Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita. The Admiral
emphasized Djibouti,s positive role in East Africa, thanked
Djibouti for hosting Camp Lemonier and asked for his views on
regional security and Djibouti,s priorities. The Prime
Minister first praised the USG role here and urged the
continued presence of CJTF-HOA. Looking at regional threats,
he called the Horn of Africa "very troubled" and cited two
main security concerns: the continued border tensions
between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the ongoing situation in
Somalia. He did not believe war would break out on the
border, citing the great losses both sides had suffered in
the last conflict. When asked if Eritrea were supporting
Ethiopian foes with weapons and training, the Prime Minister
said yes. Eritrea fuels Ethiopia,s opponents with arms and
training. That, in turn, raises still further the tensions
between the two countries leaders, "close comrades turned
bitter rivals." He called a solution difficult to find
before one leaves office.


3. (S/NF) Turning to Somalia, the Prime Minister insisted
the Somalis must stop blaming others and solve their own
problems; they must make the decision to live in peace. The
situation is increasingly difficult, he warned, especially
for Ethiopia. When Admiral Fallon noted that he thought
Ethiopia would like to withdraw, the Prime Minister agreed,
but said it must not do that now. Djibouti did not want
Ethiopia to intervene in Somalia in the first place, but it
is now necessary that it stay until the Ethiopian presence
can be replaced by other troops, international peacekeepers.
He urged increased support for that effort in order to
prevent greater conflict.


4. (C) Asked about Djibouti's priorities, the Prime Minister
said they were poverty reduction, energy, and access to clean
water. He noted that Djibouti,s unemployment was around 60
percent and talked about the importance of Djibouti,s
relationships with the U.S. and Dubai and the need for
further job creation. He stressed that the U.S. security
presence in Djibouti had encouraged other countries to invest
in Djibouti, and therefore helped to fuel job growth. He
praised the civil affairs work of CJTF-HOA forces, noting


that it was done in tandem with USAID, and said he was
pleased the U.S. had put its food aid pre-positioning
warehouse in Djbiouti. That was an important "vote of
confidence" he said. The Admiral agreed that the choice
reflected Djibouti's growing capacity and commercial
importance.


5. (S/NF) Admiral Fallon also met with Djibouti,s Minister
of Defense and Chief of Defense Fathi Ahmed Houssein. The
Minister called the relationship between our countries'
military forces "impeccable." He, too, stressed the very
positive impact of the U.S. presence in Djibouti, not just in
security, but in development. On Somalia, the MinDef said
that country had always been unstable, and needed a stronger
government. He believed that the problem in Somalia is
viewed there as a conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Somalia cannot solve that problem by itself, he added. He
repeated the Prime Minister's earlier statement that Ethiopia
cannot leave now without causing greater instability.
Finally, he said that Eritrea is attempting to keep Ethiopia
occupied by fueling small areas of tensions, such as the
struggle in the Ogaden region.


6. (S/NF) General Fathi agreed that the relationship was
very positive and, when there are problems, we resolve them
collaboratively. When Admiral Fallon asked about current
problems, Fathi replied that Djibouti was still waiting to
receive M2 .50 caliber machineguns for Humvees delivered in

2005. (Note: We received notice today that 14 of the 18 M2
machineguns ordered were likely to be delivered in the next
few weeks. End Note) Fathi also noted defects in two new
U.S. patrol boats just delivered and stressed that his next
priority was to use U.S. assistance to help aquire improved
communications equipment.


7. (S) The MinDef asked Admiral Fallon for his views on the
War in Iraq. The Admiral replied that he had just returned
from Iraq and that he had seen significant evidence of
increased security in many areas over the past few months.
He was able to walk safely this week in areas where our
troops had been under frequent attacks within the last year.
The MinDef was grateful for the readout and noted the
importance of a continued USG security role in Iraq and in
the region. In a brief, final exchange, the MinDef noted
that he would not remain long in his post. "Eight long
years" was enough, he asserted. The Admiral urged the MinDef
to keep working and hoped to see him again soon.


8. (C) In a lively December 11 dinner with Admiral Fallon,
attended by CJTF-HOA Commander Admiral Hart and staff,
Djiboutian civic and business leaders were warmly positive
about the USG role in Djibouti and optimistic that a wave of
private investment would help Djiboutians. They warned,
however, that a public/private partnership was needed to help
Djibouti recast its educational system to train its youth to
do those new jobs new being created. The American manager of
a 30 million-dollar U.S.-led investment in an industrial salt
plant, stressed his commitment to train Djiboutians for
skilled jobs in his firm. The head of Djibouti's national
research center detailed efforts to overcome shortages of
both fresh water and electricity. (Djibouti is likely to
desalinate its water in the future. With potential for
solar, wind, and geothermal energy, and with a planned
interconnection to tap Ethiopia's hydroelectric power,
Djibouti could be an alternative energy role model for other
countries, but it is dependent now on oil-fired generators.)


9. (S) Comment: The GODJ officials and private sector
leaders voiced the view, widely held here, that the USG
presence and actions here boost Djibouti's security and feed
foreign investor confidence and economic growth. The GODJ,s
focus on regional stability and job creation reflects the
fact that the main external threat to Djibouti is new
regional conflict and the main internal threat is
unemployment and hunger. The MinDef,s comment about leaving


soon suggests there may be a cabinet reshuffle, perhaps timed
to legislative elections in early 2008. End Comment.

SYMINGTON