BOTSWANA-BASED DELIBERATIONS OVER AFRICOM

S E C R E T GABORONE 001249

SIPDIS


NOFORN

STATE FOR D, P, AF, AF/RSA, AF/S AND PM
DOD FOR OSD/ISA/AFR (WHELAN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR BC
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA-BASED DELIBERATIONS OVER AFRICOM

REF: A. STATE 140052

B. GABORONE 1158

C. GABORONE 298


Classified By: DCM Philip R. Drouin; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/NF) Summary: In an understated and impeccable Botswana
fashion, GOB Minister of Foreign Affairs Merafhe politely
received the AFRICOM demarche from the Ambassador on October
10 and promised to get back to us quickly, possibly by
October 12, with a firm GOB reply. Merafhe appeared
genuinely interested and engaged during our meeting, but did
not want to go against proper protocol, as he needs to brief
his principals on this important USG approach. While
waiting, we trust that the Department and DoD are continuing
to craft useful press guidance for the public diplomacy
campaign ahead. We repeat our suggestion that the term
"basing" be dropped from the AFRICOM lexicon, and use instead
"locating or situating" headquarters or other staff/personnel
in African countries. From our experience, "basing" carries
too much baggage here, and likely elsewhere across Africa.
End Summary.


2. (S/NF) The Ambassador, accompanied by the DCM and ODC
Chief, called on GOB Minister of Foreign Affairs Mompati
Merafhe October 10 and delivered the demarche (Ref A) to
explore possible locations for siting elements of the new
Africa Command (AFRICOM) on the continent. The Ambassador
noted that Botswana, along with some other African countries,
is now being considered for hosting some such AFRICOM
element. Recalling the GOB's earlier receptivity towards the
AFRICOM concept (Refs B and C),the Ambassador sought to
confirm Botswana's current sentiments and whether the country
would be willing to receive a technical assessment team in
the near future.


3. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Merafhe listened intently, and
immediately wanted to know how many U.S. troops would be
based in Botswana under this AFRICOM proposal. The
Ambassador assured the Foreign Minister that this initiative
does not entail "basing" combat troops in African countries,
emphasizing that Africa Command will be a staff headquarters
and not a troop headquarters. She continued that AFRICOM is
now looking to locate its headquarters staff and smaller
regional integration teams in some African countries.
Despite the Foreign Minister's prompting, the Ambassador
declined to identify the other African countries now being
approached.


4. (S/NF) In reply, the Foreign Minister noted that there had
been a great deal of spirited debate and discussion (much of
it critical) in the media of late about AFRICOM (Ref B). He
suggested that we all have been at somewhat of a
disadvantage, because the GOB did not have details or
specifics as to what the USG proposal on AFRICOM actually
entailed and he did not want to be drawn into "shadow boxing"
with AFRICOM's critics here. Now that he has a more concrete
(although not fully defined) idea of what the USG is
proposing, he has a better understanding and appreciation of
our intentions and can brief his principals.


5. (S/NF) Comment: Foreign Minister Merafhe's reaction to
our demarche is not surprising. In keeping with the
character and culture of this consensus-driven country and
polity, which just celebrated 41 years of democratic
independence on September 30, Merafhe said that he must first
consult on this formal USG approach vis-a-vis AFRICOM with
higher authorities (likely President Mogae and Vice President
Khama). He hopes to be able to give us a firm GOB reply by
Friday, October 12. It would be premature of us to suggest
how the GOB might officially respond to our demarche, but
given past expressions of GOB interest from the highest
levels here (reftels),we remain hopeful for a positive reply.


6. (S/NF) Comment Continued: In the meantime, while Botswana
deliberates a bit, we trust that State and DoD continue their
deliberations over what useful press guidance we might
employ. This would be for the inevitable queries that will
likely come our way now that we have more formally approached
the GOB (and others) about hosting an AFRICOM element (albeit
not quite a formal offer to do so). We also repeat our
suggestion (Ref B) that the term "basing" be dropped from the
AFRICOM lexicon, and use instead the vocabulary of "locating
or situating" headquarters or other command staff and
personnel in African countries. From our experience, the
concept of "basing" conjures up automatic images of U.S.
combat troops and carries too much baggage here, and likely
elsewhere on the continent. End Comment.

CANAVAN