MALAWI: UN EVALUATION OF MDF PEACEKEEPERS

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000894

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/RSA - MIKE BITTRICK, AF/S - ELIZABETH PELLETREAU
GABORONE FOR OCD
HARARE FOR DATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MI MOPS PREL
SUBJECT: MALAWI: UN EVALUATION OF MDF PEACEKEEPERS
INDENTIFIES READINESS NEEDS

REF: LILONGWE 621


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: November 23-24, a UN High Ranking
Operational Training and Advisory Team (HROTAT) visited
Malawi to inspect the Malawi Defense Force's (MDF) readiness
to deploy a battalion to the UN/AU Mission in Darfur
(UNAMID). HROTAT said the MDF passed the initial inspection
and would remain a potential troop contributing country
(TCC),but still had work to do before deployment. HROTAT
identified equipment shortfalls, increased Darfur-focused
training, and enhanced planning and logistic capabilities as
needs to be addressed. HROTAT would not give a potential
date for a deployment to the MDF, and suggested the MDF focus
instead on a state of readiness and not a calendar date in
their preparations. Comment: an MDF battalion has already
started ACOTA peacekeeping training, so equipment shortfalls
present the largest obstacle to the MDF's potential
deployment to Darfur. The MOD and MDF expressed frustration
that Taiwan was the only equipment donor so far, and hope
that the U.S. will offer assistance soon. Even with new
donor equipment assistance, the need to procure, transport,
and train on all new equipment makes the second half of 2008
the earliest the MDF battalion is likely to be ready to
deploy. END SUMMARY

HROTAT Visits the Ministry of National Defense
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2. (SBU) November 23-24, HROTAT visited Malawi to inspect
the MDF's readiness to deploy a battalion to UNAMID. HROTAT
was composed of two officers from the UN and two officers
from the AU, all with significant Darfur experience. The
visit began with a meeting at the MOD between the team and
Bob Khamisa, Minister of National Defense, the principal
secretary and numerous high-ranking MDF officers. During the

SIPDIS
discussion, the MOD erroneously claimed the USG had already
committed financial support for equipment. The MOD was also
unable to answer HROTAT questions about the length of the
MDF's planned commitment. MDF officers stepped in to try and
correct the MOD. (Comment: In a later meeting with HROTAT,
emboffs were able to clarify that the USG had yet to commit
to an financial or equipment support of the MDF. End
Comment.)

Equipment Inspection
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3. (SBU) The MDF brought HROTAT to the Kamuzu Barracks Parade
Ground for an equipment inspection. The MDF lined up 4 older
Israeli-manufactured Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and 36
Tata cargo/troop transport trucks, all freshly painted UN
white. The MDF also had photos of their 17 newly-refurbished
South African Caspir APCs (12 troop carriers, 1 recovery
vehicle, 1 ambulance, 1 command post, 1 fuel tanker, and 1
water tanker) also painted white. The MDF commented that the
new APCs would be in Malawi by the end of December. The MDF
also displayed two tents of medical equipment, one tent of
communications equipment, and numerous cots and basic
equipment. Most of the medical and communications equipment
on display was new, causing HROTAT to question whether the
MDF had adequately trained with the equipment they expected
to bring to theater.

Troops Know the Basics, but Concerns About Sustainment
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4. (SBU) On Day 2 of the inspection, HROTAT briefed the MDF
on Darfur and concerns about the deployment. The MDF
responded with their own briefing by the battalion commander,
Col. Jalale, but did not address HROTAT's concerns about the
ability of the MDF to be self-sustaining for 90 days in
Darfur. After an inspection of the battalion, HROTAT members
broke off into numerous one-on-one discussions with the
troops. This was followed by convoy escort and desert
driving demonstrations. HROTAT commented that the
discussions and demonstrations showed the MDF "knows the
basics" of peacekeeping and has some knowledge of what they
will face in Darfur, but has yet to fully integrate into
training and planning the knowledge the MDF's military
observers have gained in their recent tours in Darfur.

Equipment Another HROTAT Concern
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5. (SBU) At the end of the two-day inspection, HROTAT said
that the MDF had "passed" and would remain a potential troop
contributing country, but still had work to do. HROTAT
commented that the MDF seemed focused on Darfur and the MDF
officers reconfirmed that their commitment to go to Darfur
was long-term. The biggest obstacle identified by HROTAT is
the required equipment shortfall. HROTAT strongly advised
that the MDF bring only one type of APC to Darfur instead of
combining the older Israeli models with the new South African
ones. (Comment: The MDF would thus require 11 more South
African APCs to meet UN requirements. End Comment)
Additionally, HROTAT said the MDF should attempt to acquire
at least a platoon's worth of additional equipment, including
APCs, to ensure future battalions could be trained on the
appropriate equipment prior to deployment.

HROTAT Recommends Focus on Readiness, Not the Calendar
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6. (SBU) HROTAT made four recommendations to the MDF to
complete before moving forward: 1) The MDF should work with
donors to complete procurement of all required equipment, and
also make donors aware that Malawi's long-term commitment to
the UN mission in Darfur may require an enduring commitment
from donors; 2) The battalion should complete ACOTA training
and seek to incorporate the MDF's Darfur experience into MDF
training; 3) Sustainment exercises should be added to staff
training so the MDF can demonstrate its ability to account
for, store, defend, and deliver supplies; and 4) MDF should
focus on its state of readiness rather than an arbitrary date
as a target for deployment to Darfur.

MOD, MDF Frustrated by Lack of Commitment on Equipment
Support from the U.S.
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7. (SBU) Comment: The MDF battalion began ACOTA training Nov.
26 that will address Darfur-specific peacekeeping tasks,
including self-sustainment logistical exercises. HROTAT
commented that Darfur is extremely challenging even for more
experienced peacekeepers, and that ideally a country like
Malawi should gain operational experience in another theater
first. They noted, however, that mission constraints will
make it difficult to remove Malawi from the list of potential
TCCs. According to HROTAT, the MDF battalion appears to be
on-par or in even better shape than many of the other African
potential contributors, but equipment shortfalls remain the
biggest obstacle to deployment. With Taiwan as the only
committed donor so far, the government of Malawi will have to
recanvas potential donors for support. In discussion with
the MOD and MDF after the visit, they expressed frustration
over the lack of equipment support thus far from the U.S.,
and feel that without some U.S. support the MDF will not be
able to deploy. Even with additional donor support, the need
to procure, transport, and train on all new equipment likely
means the second half of 2008 is the earliest timeframe
within which the MDF could deploy.

EASTHAM