Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRETORIA1535
2007-05-03 08:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE LIMITED AID FOR COMOROS

Tags:  PREL MOPS KDEM SF CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4201
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #1535 1230858
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 030858Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9514
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1069
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO 0642
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1183
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 1081
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 4254
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001535 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS KDEM SF CN
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE LIMITED AID FOR COMOROS
ELECTION

REF: A. TRENKLE-NEUBERT EMAILS OF 4/25/2007


B. ANTANANARIVO 0419

Classified By: Political Counselor Raymond L. Brown. Reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001535

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS KDEM SF CN
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO PROVIDE LIMITED AID FOR COMOROS
ELECTION

REF: A. TRENKLE-NEUBERT EMAILS OF 4/25/2007


B. ANTANANARIVO 0419

Classified By: Political Counselor Raymond L. Brown. Reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d).


1. (C) The Government of South Africa (SAG) will provide
assistance for the upcoming Union of the Comoros Presidential
election. Acting under an AU mandate, the SAG will deploy a
small number of troops and/or police to train Comoran
security personnel, an election observation team, and limited
air assets, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director
Graham Maitland told PolOff April 25. The Government of
Comoros requested two South African battalions, but the SAG
is not willing to provide that number of troops. Maitland
reported that the various South African technical teams from
the military, police, and Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) were returning from their assessment missions and would
make recommendations on the final SAG plan in the next two
weeks.


2. (C) Maitland noted that the South African military/police
trainers will focus on "Comoran ownership," so that the SAG
"doesn't have to send troops for every election." He also
suggested that the SAG will likely deploy at least one
helicopter both to transport ballots and other election
materials and another to send a political signal to potential
troublemakers ("the sound of a whirling helicopter has a big
impact in the Comoros context").


3. (C) Maitland expressed frustration with the press articles
(Ref A),in which Comoran officials claimed South Africa
would deploy 100 troops for the elections. He said this was
"just another game" the leadership in the Comoros was
playing. Asked about the Arouan President Bacar, Maitland
did not have a detailed view, only commenting that he was
"corrupt . . . as are most of the other island leaders."


4. (C) Separately, SANDF sources indicated to DAO that the
SANDF will send 20 personnel to conduct an assessment of how
many military personnel are needed. The SANDF sent over 120
personnel last year to support local elections in the Comoros.
TEITELBAUM