Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NAIROBI2738
2008-12-08 14:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
EMBASSY CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF AFRICA
how-toVZCZCXRO0882 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHNR #2738 3431454 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081454Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7836 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 3064 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0499 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002738
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: KTIA MARR MASS PTER KE SO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF AFRICA
COUNTERINSURGENCY ENGAGEMENT 1206 PROPOSAL
REF: STATE 118337
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002738
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: KTIA MARR MASS PTER KE SO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF AFRICA
COUNTERINSURGENCY ENGAGEMENT 1206 PROPOSAL
REF: STATE 118337
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) Embassy Nairobi has reviewed and supports S/CT's
proposal to provide training in Best Practices and Lessons
Learned in Counterinsurgency Operations to Kenya to help this
nation build its capacity to perform these operations in an
effective manner that respects human rights.
2. (C) The threat of terrorism is on the rise throughout the
Horn of Africa, with Somalia serving as its epicenter.
Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization,
now exercises control over large segments of Southern
Somalia, and has sheltered and worked alongside al-Qaida
operatives in East Africa. Kenya is a frontline state with a
long and poorly controlled border with Somalia. Ineffective
host nation counterinsurgency capabilities are a major
impediment to effective counterterrorism capabilities, and in
some cases, pose a threat to a continued security
relationship with the United States. Kenya has waged
domestic security and counterinsurgency campaigns and border
control operations that have generated allegations of human
rights abuses. Continued security assistance is likely to
face serious questioning in the face of such allegations.
Moreover, harsh tactics are counterproductive and increase
the population's distrust of the government, dragging out the
conflict.
3. (C) Kenya,s military needs to develop counterinsurgency
(COIN) doctrine, strategy, and tactics that are designed to
win over ) not alienate ) public support, and target
insurgents while minimizing abuses. U.S. counterinsurgency
trainers and experts can share hard-learned lessons from Iraq
and Afghanistan on building relationships with local
populations, extracting information from suspects and
informants without torture, and avoiding excessive collateral
damage in military operations. In addition, training
equipment may be provided.
4. (C) An improvement in COIN capabilities (and a
commensurate improvement in COIN ops) would endow Kenya with
the capability to expedite an end to local conflicts
extremists can exploit and radicalize. More humane, balanced
COIN ops would also facilitate a wider U.S. security
relationship with Kenya at a time when AQ East Africa and
al-Shabaab capabilities are on the rise. Enhanced COIN
capabilities would help to contain the growth of a terrorist
safehaven in Somalia and foster conditions whereby further
strengthening of the East African security sector by the U.S.
is feasible.
RANNEBERGER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: KTIA MARR MASS PTER KE SO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF AFRICA
COUNTERINSURGENCY ENGAGEMENT 1206 PROPOSAL
REF: STATE 118337
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) Embassy Nairobi has reviewed and supports S/CT's
proposal to provide training in Best Practices and Lessons
Learned in Counterinsurgency Operations to Kenya to help this
nation build its capacity to perform these operations in an
effective manner that respects human rights.
2. (C) The threat of terrorism is on the rise throughout the
Horn of Africa, with Somalia serving as its epicenter.
Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization,
now exercises control over large segments of Southern
Somalia, and has sheltered and worked alongside al-Qaida
operatives in East Africa. Kenya is a frontline state with a
long and poorly controlled border with Somalia. Ineffective
host nation counterinsurgency capabilities are a major
impediment to effective counterterrorism capabilities, and in
some cases, pose a threat to a continued security
relationship with the United States. Kenya has waged
domestic security and counterinsurgency campaigns and border
control operations that have generated allegations of human
rights abuses. Continued security assistance is likely to
face serious questioning in the face of such allegations.
Moreover, harsh tactics are counterproductive and increase
the population's distrust of the government, dragging out the
conflict.
3. (C) Kenya,s military needs to develop counterinsurgency
(COIN) doctrine, strategy, and tactics that are designed to
win over ) not alienate ) public support, and target
insurgents while minimizing abuses. U.S. counterinsurgency
trainers and experts can share hard-learned lessons from Iraq
and Afghanistan on building relationships with local
populations, extracting information from suspects and
informants without torture, and avoiding excessive collateral
damage in military operations. In addition, training
equipment may be provided.
4. (C) An improvement in COIN capabilities (and a
commensurate improvement in COIN ops) would endow Kenya with
the capability to expedite an end to local conflicts
extremists can exploit and radicalize. More humane, balanced
COIN ops would also facilitate a wider U.S. security
relationship with Kenya at a time when AQ East Africa and
al-Shabaab capabilities are on the rise. Enhanced COIN
capabilities would help to contain the growth of a terrorist
safehaven in Somalia and foster conditions whereby further
strengthening of the East African security sector by the U.S.
is feasible.
RANNEBERGER