MALAWI: COMMANDER RECONFIRMS PEACEKEEPING GOALS TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000682

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

ADDIS FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV KPKO MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: COMMANDER RECONFIRMS PEACEKEEPING GOALS TO
AMBASSADOR


1. (SBU) Summary: In a recent meeting with General Marko
Chiziko, Commander of the Malawi Defense Force (MDF),Chiziko
thanked the Ambassador for past U.S. military support,
including the International Military Education and Training
(IMET) program of which he himself was a graduate. Chiziko
reiterated that the MDF still desires to increase its role in
international peacekeeping. He said Malawi remains
frustrated by its shortages of required equipment, but feels
that political will and troop preparation remain strong.
Chiziko told the Ambassador that expanding their deployment
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the MDF's
preferred course. In addition to peacekeeping, the MDF
remains concerned about Malawi's porous borders and increased
smuggling from the Horn of Africa and the DRC. Chiziko said
the MDF would secure ballot boxes and probably provide some
transportation to officials in next May's national elections
in Malawi, but would stay out of political disputes.
However, Chiziko commented that he personally believes there
could be violence in one or two contentious districts.
Comment: The GOM remains enthusiastic about expanding its
peacekeeping role but will need significant donor aid for
equipment and training if it is to increase its deployment
soon. End Summary.


2. (SBU) During a recent meeting with the Commander of the
Malawi Defense Force, General Marko Chiziko, Chiziko thanked
the Ambassador for past U.S. military support. Chiziko
specifically mentioned the IMET program under which he
attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort
Leavenworth in 1988. He credited the program with training
many of the MDF's current leaders.

Peacekeeping Still a Priority
--------------


3. (SBU) Chiziko expressed frustration, however, over the
lack of donor support for purchasing equipment the UN
requires for deployment of a peacekeeping battalion. The
General reiterated that the government of Malawi (GOM) and
the MDF both still want to increase the country's role in
peacekeeping on the African continent. He said the GOM's
political will remains strong and the MDF continues to drill
all of its troops on peacekeeping support operations. He
added that a deployment to Darfur no longer seemed likely,
and that his preference would be to add an infantry battalion
to the guard company the MDFQurrently has in the DRC.
Chiziko also said that the African Union was scheduled to
visit Malawi to discuss an MDF contribution to the African
Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),but that the GOM was
unlikely to agree to such a deployment.

Porous Borders - Biggest Domestic Concern
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) When the Ambassador inquired about domestic
concerns, Chiziko quickly identified Malawi's porous borders
as the biggest problem. He said smuggling of people and
goods from the Horn of Africa and the DRC continued unabated.
He added that the MDF currently does not have patrol boats
to monitor Lake Malawi. Additionally, he said that the
government was not able to accurately track what happened to
illegal immigrants who were disappearing into the villages.


5. (SBU) Regarding next May's general elections, Chiziko
recounted the MDF's long history of respect for civilian
control. He said the MDF disarmed the Malawi Congress
Party's Young Pioneer paramilitary wing in 1994, but never
considered taking control of the government. He said the
MDF's role in the next election would continue to be securing
ballot boxes and possibly providing transportation for
officials, but Chiziko stated that the MDF would not get
involved in political disputes. However, Chiziko said that
he believed there could be election-related violence in one
or two contentious districts.

Comment: Donor Aid Still Needed to Expand Peacekeeping Role
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) Comment: The GOM continues to be enthusiastic about
expanding its peacekeeping role, but it will require
significant donor aid to purchase outstanding equipment
needs. MDF requests to procure equipment with funding
funding from Malawi's national budget have been accorded low
priority at the country's cash-strapped Ministry of Finance.
While noting the internal training the MDF already does, the
Ambassador pushed Chiziko to resume ACOTA training as soon as

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possible to reaffirm the MDF's commitment to peacekeeping.
Chiziko remains a strong supporter of AFRICOM, and increased
military-to-military programs could enhance MDF capabilities
and its relationship with the United States.
BODDE