Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LILONGWE299
2007-04-19 14:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
MALAWI PKO DEPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES
how-toVZCZCXRO0663 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHLG #0299 1091415 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 191415Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4112 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0970 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0543
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000299
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S
STATE FOR ACOTA
STATE FOR AF/RSA MIKE BITTRICK
STATE FOR INR/AA RITA BYRNES
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IO KDEM MARR PGOV MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI PKO DEPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES
REF: A. STATE 51828
B. LILONGWE 124
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000299
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S
STATE FOR ACOTA
STATE FOR AF/RSA MIKE BITTRICK
STATE FOR INR/AA RITA BYRNES
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IO KDEM MARR PGOV MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI PKO DEPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES
REF: A. STATE 51828
B. LILONGWE 124
1. (SBU) Summary: According to MOD officials, Malawi is still
planning on sending an MDF battalion to join the PKO mission
in Darfur, though there are currently no plans to deploy to
Somalia. Minister of Defense Davies Katsonga is currently in
Addis Ababa, in part to discuss the mission with African
Union officials and hopefully develop a timeline for Malawi's
deployment. After Katsonga returns to Malawi on April 24,
post plans to confirm the results of his trip to Ethiopia, as
well as engage with other contacts on the issue. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Poloff spoke with Ministry of Defense Principal
Secretary Patrick Kachimera on April 19 to discuss Malawi's
SIPDIS
PKO plans, and possible deployments to Darfur or Somalia.
Kachimera reiterated Malawi's concerns over joining the
mission to Somalia--i.e., the GOM has received no formal
request from the AU and still has questions over its capacity
to deploy. However, he was much more positive about joining
the mission to Darfur. Kachimera said that Malawi is
committed to deploying a battalion to Darfur, and plans to
"dispatch a senior MDF official" to Addis Ababa for planning
purposes.
3. (SBU) However, Kachimera went on to say that the main
obstacle to deployment is still the acquisition of Armored
Personnel Carriers. Though the MOD has ordered twelve APCs
from South Africa with Taiwanese funding, these have yet to
be delivered. Kachimera also said that the MDF is ideally
seeking a total of twenty-four APCs, and asked PolOff for USG
funding for the remaining twelve. PolOff reiterated previous
stated policy that the USG can't commit additional resources
until definitive deployment plans are put in place.
Taiwanese Defense Attache Menghao Hsu confirmed the APC
procurement delay, but said that the MOD had told Taiwan that
they might be able to deploy with only the 12 APCs, and use
conventional vehicles for additional transport. Kachimera
said that the MOD would make a public announcement regarding
the deployment after they had determined a specific
deployment date/plan, which he hoped the Minister would bring
from Addis Ababa.
4. (SBU) Comment: While Kachimera confidently proclaimed that
the planned deployment to Darfur is "definite", his certainty
should be taken with a grain of salt. The APC issue is still
a very real obstacle to deployment, and it is not a certainty
that the GOM is willing to move ahead with only the 12 APCs
they have on order. Also, past proclamations by the MOD
(reftel B) regarding PKO deployments have been overruled by
President Mutharika, calling into question the extent of the
Ministry's authority. Regardless, post will try to confirm
the results of Katsonga's trip to Ethiopia upon his return
next week, and also work with our other contacts to clarify
GOM policy and plans. End Comment.
EASTHAM
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S
STATE FOR ACOTA
STATE FOR AF/RSA MIKE BITTRICK
STATE FOR INR/AA RITA BYRNES
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IO KDEM MARR PGOV MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI PKO DEPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES
REF: A. STATE 51828
B. LILONGWE 124
1. (SBU) Summary: According to MOD officials, Malawi is still
planning on sending an MDF battalion to join the PKO mission
in Darfur, though there are currently no plans to deploy to
Somalia. Minister of Defense Davies Katsonga is currently in
Addis Ababa, in part to discuss the mission with African
Union officials and hopefully develop a timeline for Malawi's
deployment. After Katsonga returns to Malawi on April 24,
post plans to confirm the results of his trip to Ethiopia, as
well as engage with other contacts on the issue. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Poloff spoke with Ministry of Defense Principal
Secretary Patrick Kachimera on April 19 to discuss Malawi's
SIPDIS
PKO plans, and possible deployments to Darfur or Somalia.
Kachimera reiterated Malawi's concerns over joining the
mission to Somalia--i.e., the GOM has received no formal
request from the AU and still has questions over its capacity
to deploy. However, he was much more positive about joining
the mission to Darfur. Kachimera said that Malawi is
committed to deploying a battalion to Darfur, and plans to
"dispatch a senior MDF official" to Addis Ababa for planning
purposes.
3. (SBU) However, Kachimera went on to say that the main
obstacle to deployment is still the acquisition of Armored
Personnel Carriers. Though the MOD has ordered twelve APCs
from South Africa with Taiwanese funding, these have yet to
be delivered. Kachimera also said that the MDF is ideally
seeking a total of twenty-four APCs, and asked PolOff for USG
funding for the remaining twelve. PolOff reiterated previous
stated policy that the USG can't commit additional resources
until definitive deployment plans are put in place.
Taiwanese Defense Attache Menghao Hsu confirmed the APC
procurement delay, but said that the MOD had told Taiwan that
they might be able to deploy with only the 12 APCs, and use
conventional vehicles for additional transport. Kachimera
said that the MOD would make a public announcement regarding
the deployment after they had determined a specific
deployment date/plan, which he hoped the Minister would bring
from Addis Ababa.
4. (SBU) Comment: While Kachimera confidently proclaimed that
the planned deployment to Darfur is "definite", his certainty
should be taken with a grain of salt. The APC issue is still
a very real obstacle to deployment, and it is not a certainty
that the GOM is willing to move ahead with only the 12 APCs
they have on order. Also, past proclamations by the MOD
(reftel B) regarding PKO deployments have been overruled by
President Mutharika, calling into question the extent of the
Ministry's authority. Regardless, post will try to confirm
the results of Katsonga's trip to Ethiopia upon his return
next week, and also work with our other contacts to clarify
GOM policy and plans. End Comment.
EASTHAM