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