ALGERIAN MEDIA: AFRICOM TO COUNTER GROWING CHINESE

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001124 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/RSA JBANDO, NEA/RA SSOUCEK, PM/PPA EFOSTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL AG SUBJECT: ALGERIAN MEDIA: AFRICOM TO COUNTER GROWING CHINESE ECONOMIC INFLUENCE REF: STATE 104550 ¶1. We delivered reftel demarche notifying the Algerian government of AFRICOM's official inception as a unified command to MFA North America Deputy Director Rachid Ouali on October 8. Ouali provided no substantive comment on AFRICOM. Meanwhile, Algeria's leading newspapers devoted measured coverage of AFRICOM's stand up between September 30 and October 4, and highlighted the concern of skeptics in the region who doubt the true intention of AFRICOM's mission. ¶2. French-language daily El Watan provided factual coverage of AFRICOM's unified command status on September 30, quoting a July GAO report which underscored AFRICOM's mission to assist African nations interested in improving security for their people, territory and borders. The article also highlighted the concerns of AFRICOM skeptics who fear Washington is seeking to augment its military presence in Africa to offset China's growing economic influence in the region. French-language daily Liberte ran a headline calling AFRICOM "America's tool to control Africa" in a September 30 article. The article reported that the U.S. is moving ahead with AFRICOM despite continued hostility to the idea in the region. Liberte also cited Chinese economic might in Africa as one factor behind U.S. plans to press ahead with AFRICOM. Both Liberte and El Watan's September 30 reports noted that AFRICOM will continue to operate from Stuttgart. However, Liberte alleged in an October 4 article that a U.S. delegation in Rabat was discussing Morocco as a possible host for AFRICOM headquarters. PEARCE