BURKINA FASO: UPDATE OF PEACE KEEPING BATTALION READINESS

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 001136


DEPT FOR AF/RSA MIKE BITTRICK, CHIP BECK, AND MIKE CORDIER
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK FOR GLENN SADOWSKI
ABIDJAN FOR DATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS KPKO PGOV PREL ASEC UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: UPDATE OF PEACE KEEPING BATTALION READINESS

REF: OUAGADOUGOU 962; KHARTOUM 001726



1. The following summarizes the status of the first of three
ACOTA-trained Burkina Faso infantry battalions scheduled to
participate in UNAMID peace support operations.


A. Equipment: All ACOTA- and SPG-funded and procured equipment has
been received except: 1 battalion aid station, 15 pistol belts with
suspenders, 1 rough terrain forklift, 1 low-bed trailer, 800 combat
helmets, 800 bullet proof vests, 4 armored personnel carriers for
training, 26 armored personnel carriers to be deployed with the
battalion; also communications equipment, including: 10 VHF base
stations, 4 VHF repeater stations, 41 VHF transceivers for vehicles,
and 10 HF base stations. The battalion aid station and pistol belts
with suspenders are scheduled to arrive in early January, 2009, the
rough terrain forklift and low-bed trailer are scheduled to arrive
on 20 December, the combat helmets and bullet proof vests, the 4
training and 26 armored personnel carriers to be deployed are
scheduled to arrive on December 18, 2008 and early January, 2009
respectively, and the communications equipment is scheduled to
arrive on December 30 (with the exception of the VHF base station,
which does not yet have a delivery date). Based on the most recent
UNDPKO UNAMID Infantry Battalion major equipment requirement list,
the BF battalion has on hand all required equipment (except that
mentioned above). All equipment on hand has been painted white
according to UNDPKO specifications. Post understands that the APCs
are being painted at the factory.


B. Training completed: In October and November, 2008, ACOTA
provided the following additional training to the battalion
scheduled to deploy first: 1) New Equipment Training; 2)
Pre-Deployment and Staff training; and 3) Combat Engineer Training.


C. Training scheduled: ACOTA has scheduled the following training
in January-February 2009: 1) peace support operations for a
mechanized company January 12-23; 2) peace support operations
inventory training on February 3-6; 4) Field Medic training on
February 9-20; 5) PSO Pre-deployment PSSOST Refresher training
(original training was done in 2007) February 23-March 13; 6)
Pre-deployment staff refresher training February 9-27; and 7)
deployment mentoring March 16-20, 2009. The Ministry of Defense
(MOD) has agreed in principle to the training listed above, but
notes that the dates may need to change because their equipment will
need to be ready to deploy on February 9, the projected material
readiness date. The MOD has informally told Post that all training
that uses equipment should be completed by this date. Furthermore,
PAE has scheduled new equipment training for all major PAE-provided
equipment, including vehicles, communications, water treatment, and
one battalion aid station. This training will be conducted December
18, 2008-January 22, 2009.


D. Ongoing training: Thirty section chiefs from the battalion were
enrolled in English at the MOD (IMET-funded) English teaching
laboratory from August-October, 2008 for intensive training.
English will be reinforced for the section chiefs at each
regrouping, during pre-deployment planning, and for a three-week
intensive course in January, 2009.


E. Preparation for deployment: Two contractor experts spent five
weeks with the Burkinabe battalion and MOD staff assisting them with
deployment planning and providing other training, including combat
engineering. ACOTA has proposed a trainer for January to focus on
ensuring accurate load list and cargo readiness date submissions for
the contingency owned equipment. Post understands that the UNDPKO
has sent a UN logistics contractor to assist with the same tasks.
The UN contractor will return to Burkina Faso to assist with
pre-deployment tasks in February. Post strongly supports this joint
effort.

-The MOD has informed the Embassy that its load list will be
complete on January 5, 2009 pending information from the U.S. on
remaining delivery dates and on the procurement of additional
equipment not originally identified as a UNDPKO requirement or
identified by MOD as being a need but not a DPKO requirement. The
MOD has agreed to seek clarification from UNDPKO on any changes in
equipment requirements and Post will discuss the results with SPG
and ACOTA.

-The MOD has requested from ACOTA and PAE a complete list of donated
equipment with the unit price of each item and its delivery date
(both past and future dates). Post understands the unit price is
required for the load list. The MOD would like to have the above
information by December 26, 2008, to help it complete its load list
by January 5, 2009. Post has forwarded this request for information
to both PAE and ACOTA.

-Post understands that the UN has scheduled a pre-deployment visit
for 9-13 February and that the cargo readiness date will be 24
February. The MOD told Post that the MOU with DPKO is in
negotiation and that it hopes to sign the final document soon after
the UN completes its pre-deployment inspection.

-Embassy staff has carefully reviewed with Burkina Faso MOD staff
the DPKO Infantry Battalion requirements (para. 4 of the document
entitled UNAMID Infantry Battalion) and has the following concern:
MOD staff believes there may have been changes to the original
UNDPKO requirements list. To address this concern, Embassy staff
has asked the MOD to coordinate with the military attache posted to
the Burkinabe Mission to the UN. (See details in para. 2.C. below).
Despite these difficulties, they appear to be well prepared to
carry out all of the other requirements.


2. The Ministry of Defense made several additional requests on
October 7, as reported in reftel. The status of those requests is
as follows:


A. Approximately 2.5 million dollars to build a camp in Darfur.
After consultation with AF/RSA, ACOTA, and USUN, the Ambassador
informed the Minister of Defense that material will be provided by
the UN and the battalion will provide the labor. She pointed out
that ACOTA had recently trained the engineer company to perform
basic combat engineering, which includes setting up a base camp
until a more permanent camp and infrastructure is provided.


B. Funding for per diem of battalion staff while training and
awaiting deployment: After consultation with AF/RSA/ACOTA,
Ambassador informed the MOD that ACOTA would try to fund per diem
only for those who were undergoing ACOTA-training during the
pre-deployment phase.


C. Funding for additional equipment: the MOD identified 1 sewage
truck, 2 layered tents with air conditioners and washing facilities,
and 1 medium cargo trailer as being items they hope to have but that
are not on the UNDPKO requirements list. Concerning these items,
MOD staff said they believe the UNDPKO requirements have changed,
but they agreed to confirm this with UNDPKO directly. (See para 1.E.
above).

-In addition to these items, the MOD has asked for the following
equipment that is on the UNDPKO UNAMID Infantry Battalion
requirements list but numbers are not specified in that document: 63
fans or air conditioners to go with the tents (the UN list says that
tents must have cooling systems but does not specify what kind),5
laptop computers, 7 desktop computers, 3 photocopiers, 2 fax
machines, 6 printers, and 6 scanners (this is in addition to office
equipment that was already purchased by ACOTA for training
purposes).

-The Ambassador intends to inform the Minister of Defense in writing
that the U.S. will not purchase any further equipment or offer any
additional financial assistance prior to Burkina Faso's first
deployment except for per diem costs associated with remaining ACOTA
pre-deployment training.


3. Embassy Ouagadougou stands ready to assist any and all efforts to
ensure the battalion is deployed to Darfur as soon as possible.

JACKSON