BRENTHURST FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADVICE TO RWANDA,

UNCLAS PRETORIA 003569 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON EAID PINR SF SUBJECT: BRENTHURST FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADVICE TO RWANDA, LIBERIA, LESOTHO AND MOZAMBIQUE ¶1. (SBU) The Brenthurst Foundation, a Johannesburg-based think tank funded by the Oppenheimer family, is providing "confidential" policy advice to the Governments of Liberia, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Mozambique. Greg Mills, Director of the Foundation (see bio-note at para 6),told PolOff and visiting S/P Advisor on October 1 that Brenthurst focuses on advising African governments on economic policy, not political issues. Mills is the point person on the initiative, although he draws on the resources of outside consultants for particular country projects. ¶2. (SBU) Brenthurst provides the service, free of charge, to African governments on three conditions: -- the Foundation will only work directly with the Office of the Presidency in the respective African countries; -- it will only provide policy advice where invited by the President of the country; and, -- it prefers to work in countries where the Oppenheimers do not have direct business interests. Mills noted that the term "Foundation" is misleading since Brenthurst provides little grant money. It is primarily a think tank, focused on policy. ¶3. (SBU) Rwanda is one of Brenthurst's most active programs. Mills plans to spend four months in Kigali in early 2008 working directly with President Kagame on economic policy. He is in regular and direct contact with Kagame and is already helping Kagame draft speeches, including Kagame's recent speech to the Conservative Party conference in the U.K. ¶4. (U) In addition to the policy work, Brenthurst also facilitates dialogues on Africa policy issues, often through conferences at Tswalu Game Reserve, also owned by the Oppenheimer family. Recent programs at Tswalu include: "Globalization and Economic Successes, Africa beyond Aid"; "Business Principles for a Strong Africa"; "Southern Africa and International Terrorism" (with the U.S. National Intelligence Council); "The China-U.S.-Trilateral Dialogues"; and, "Vietnam and Africa: Comparative Lessons". Brenthurst works most closely with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for Defence and Security Studies. See www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org for additional information. ¶5. (SBU) Asked why the Oppenheimer family is devoting so many resources to this initiative, Mills said that each generation of Oppenheimers wants to make their mark. Brenthurst is largely the initiative of Jonathan Oppenheimer, the 37-year-old son of Nicky Oppenheimer, who wants to influence the debate on Africa's economic future. It is motivated by humanitarian or ideological objectives, not financial, Mills said. ¶6. (SBU) Bio Note: A long-time and close Embassy contact, Greg Mills has served as director of the Brenthurst Foundation since March 2005. The 45-year-old Mills formerly headed the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) at the University of Witswatersrand, the preeminent foreign policy think tank in South Africa. Mills has written a number of books, including his most recent on his four-month tenure as advisor to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, entitled "From Africa to Afghanistan: With Richards and NATO to Kabul." Mills received his BA from the University of Cape Town, and his Masters and PhD from the University of Lancaster. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: We believe Mills would be open to U.S. Government-provided materials -- or even discreet, informal advice -- on the economic and political challenges facing the countries in which Brenthurst is actively working. We are happy to assist Embassy Kigali in reaching out to Mills once he arrives in Rwanda in early 2008, if desired. END COMMENT. Ball