DEMARCHE DELIVERED: AMISOM FORCE GENERATION

UNCLAS GABORONE 001124 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR AF/RSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO SO BC SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: AMISOM FORCE GENERATION REF: STATE 126421 ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Tinar Lekuni, Deputy Director for African Affairs at Botswana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on December 9. Mr. Lekuni confirmed that the African Union Force Generation team had visited Botswana in late November. He however could not share details of what happened during their meetings in Gaborone, as he did not attend them. Lekuni expressed his appreciation for the information about U.S. logistical, training, and equipment support to military units which are committed to AMISOM. He promised to share this information with the Director for African Affairs and Foreign Minister Skelemani, but made no substantive response regarding possible Botswana participation in AMISOM. ¶2. (SBU) The Chief of the Embassy's Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) also delivered reftel demarche to Lieutenant General T.H.C. Masire, Commander of the Botswana Defence Forces, on December 15. General Masire also offered no substantive response to the USG offer of support for AMISOM units. NOLAN