UK SUPPORTS SIERRA LEONE ADMISSION INTO ACOTA

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000533

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR OSD - DAS WHALEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS ASEC MCAP PGOV SL
SUBJECT: UK SUPPORTS SIERRA LEONE ADMISSION INTO ACOTA

REF: A. (A) DEPT/RSA EMAIL OF 10/31/08

B. (B) FREETOWN 519

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) The United Kingdom-led International Military Advisory
Training Team (IMATT) to Sierra Leone strongly encourages
support be provided to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed
Forces (RSLAF) via the ACOTA program. IMATT believes that the
RSLAF would greatly benefit from peacekeeping training and
equipping, which will further enhance the Force's
professionalization, continued stability and democratization
- all to the strategic advantage of the USG and the GoSL.


2. (C) In June 2008, Commander of IMATT Brigadier General
Jonathon Powe made the U.S. Defense Attache (DAO) aware of a
request from the Ministry of Defense for peacekeeping
training and equipping. In July, the GoSL MOD Chief of Staff
General Nelson-Williams formally approached Ambassador with
this request after raising it on previous occasions. The
Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) would like the RSLAF to
provide one peacekeeping company to ECOWAS' stand-by force,
and three companies for UN missions. Brigadier Powe stated
that IMATT had just completed training for five light
infantry companies for peacekeeping, but lacked funds for
continuous training. Powe is familiar with ACOTA, and
informed the DAO of his strong support for RSLAF's
participation in the program.


3. (C) Per reftel, the RSLAF's professionalization continues
to improve thanks to training and support provided by IMATT
and the USG. Participation in ACOTA will enable the RSLAF to
continue to evolve into a leading military force in the
sub-region. The UK shares USG interests in maintaining peace
and stability in the Mano River Union. Facilitating the
RSLAF's further growth into a force with maturity and
discipline is necessary to entrench an eye in the brewing and
volatile storms that dominate the neighborhood; Sierra Leone
is the isle of stability in an unsettled region. With
political will from the GoSL, enthusiasm from the RSLAF, and
support from IMATT and Embassy, this is the perfect time from
the perspective of all stakeholders for Sierra Leone to enter
the ACOTA Program to promote both GoSL and USG strategic
objectives.
PERRY