USAU: AFRICAN UNION REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL AND

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000941 SIPDIS AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS MOPS AU SUBJECT: USAU: AFRICAN UNION REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTING A TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS FACILITY IN MOGADISHU, SOMALIA. ¶1. THIS CABLE IS FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE AFRICAN UNION (USAU) AMBASSADOR DR. CINDY L. COURVILLE. ¶2. SUMMARY: AU Peace and Security Commission is requesting USG financial and logistical support to establish a temporary AMISOM Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu. The current Headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya and in light of increasing troop contributions, an imperative exists for the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) to be in closer proximity to the AMISOM Force Commander. END SUMMARY. ¶3. On 4 April 2008, USAU received a note verbale from AU Peace and Security Commission indicating that the absence of a Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu along with the challenges faced by the newly appointed AMISOM SRCC, continues to undermine the overall effectiveness of AMISOM. Given the projected troop increases from Burundian and Nigerian forces, it is becoming increasingly important to have unity of command and effort in Mogadishu. ¶4. The Note Verbale furthers explains that the AU Commission is exploring various avenues aimed at expediting the construction of the Mission Headquarters, but these efforts so far have not borne fruit. As such, given the urgency, the Commission has determined that there is a necessity to construct temporary facilities within the AMISOM area of operations in which the SRCC and a few key staff could operate until a suitable solution is found to erect a proper Mission Headquarters. ¶5. The Commission is requesting USG assistance in providing the financial and logistical resources to establish the required facilities for the SRCC and his key personnel in Mogadishu. Subject to USG response, the AMISOM Strategic Planning and Management Unit (SPMU) would engage with USAU to determine precise details of the requirement. ¶6. WAY FORWARD: - USAU asks that AF Bureau consider funding this temporary headquarters. YAMAMOTO