BURKINA FASO: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REACTION TO U.S. AFRICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000894

CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/RSA JUN BANDO
NEA/RA COL STEVE SOUCEK
PM/PPA EVAN FOSTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL MAR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REACTION TO U.S. AFRICA
COMMAND UPDATE

REF: STATE 104550

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

1.(C) Summary: On October 6, Charge d'Affaires, accompanied by
Poloff, discussed the official standing up of AFRICOM with Mamoudou
Barry, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, and Colonel
Yssoufou Sawadogo, the director of military and defense cooperation.
Barry appreciated the significance of AFRICOM and its great potential
to increase counter-terrorism cooperation and development in Burkina
Faso. Although Burkina Faso now understands the purpose of AFRICOM,
Barry explained that the command structure was not well-introduced,
and initially, there was a good deal of confusion and skepticism
about AFRICOM on the part of African countries. End Summary.

Terrorism and Development
--------------


2. (C) During an October 6th meeting, Charge and Poloff presented
reftel points to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense.
Secretary General Barry used the meeting to reiterate Burkina Faso's
desire to be included in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism
Partnership (TSCTP),a request that Burkina Faso has made officially
and which it continues to highlight at every opportunity. Terrorist
organizations are not currently present in Burkina Faso, he said, and
the country hopes maintain its security by being proactive. Barry
used Burkina Faso's porous borders and poverty as indications of
Burkina Faso's vulnerability to terrorist influences from outside of
the country, saying that a poor population can be easily corrupted.
Barry said that it is better to deal with these issues before they
become serious threats.


3. (C) Furthermore, Barry argued that when there is terrorism in a
country, development becomes impossible. Barry appreciated the
comprehensive approach that AFRICOM will take to addressing security,
development, and diplomacy and asked about future cooperation between
AFRICOM and USAID, who, he pointed out, is no longer in Burkina Faso.
The Charge explained that AFRICOM does support the U.S. mission of
development in general, and that in Burkina Faso, the Millennium
Challenge Cooperation will be the primary U.S. agency that focuses on
development.

Negative first impressions no longer a problem
-------------- -


4. (C) The Secretary General told Charge that when AFRICOM was first
announced last year, the general impression among his African
counterparts was that the U.S. military was going to create a large
and imposing base somewhere in Africa. According to Barry, Burkina
Faso, as well as many other African Military leaders he spoke with
were wary of what this new military cooperation with the U.S might
mean for their respective countries.


5. (SBU) Thanks primarily to the AFRICOM conference held in
Washington, D.C. in March, 2008, the goals and purpose of AFRICOM are
clearer now than they were when AFRICOM was first announced in 2007.
While some misconceptions and confusion about what AFRICOM does may
still exist, Burkina Faso and other countries now understand that the
same military programs and activities they now participate in with
EUCOM will be moving to AFRICOM.


6. (SBU) Comment: Burkina Faso continues to be an excellent partner
to the U.S. in the fight against terrorism and in other areas as
well. Post believes the Government is interested in continuing this
partnership and in growing existing programs and opportunities with
AFRICOM.

LAEUCHLI