MFA POL/MIL CHIEF: AFRICA OPPOSES AFRICOM PRESENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000392

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM, NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, EUR/RPM AND AF/RSA
EUCOM PLEASE PASS TO AFRICOM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2028
TAGS: MARR PREL PINS MO
SUBJECT: MFA POL/MIL CHIEF: AFRICA OPPOSES AFRICOM PRESENCE
ON THE CONTINENT

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas T. Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Military Affairs Chief Karim Halim recently criticized U.S.
military plans for an AFRICOM presence in Africa,
underscoring that the vast majority of African countries
considered any U.S. military presence in Africa to be a
provocation. While not objecting to the constitution of a
regional command, per se, Halim was also critical of
AFRICOM's planned sub-regional orientation, calling it a
confusing model and inappropriate for the African context and
opined that AFRICOM should remain off-continent and emphasize
countries, not sub-regional African groups. The Embassy has
been receiving an increasingly negative message from the
Moroccan MFA on AFRICOM, contrasting with somewhat more
positive signals coming from Moroccan military interlocutors
of the Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation. End summary.

Critical of AFRICOM Presence in Africa
--------------


2. (C) On April 3, 2008, POLOFF met with Moroccan MFA
Military Affairs Chief Karim Halim to discuss bilateral
security issues after Halim's recent participation in the
DoD-sponsored African Dialogue conference at Airlie House,
Virginia (March 25-28). Reporting directly to MFA Director
General Yousef Amrani, Halim is our principal interlocutor on
political/military and counterterrorism affairs. Halim said
that while Morocco would appreciate the opportunity to
participate in future conferences of this sort, he expressed
many reservations about the orientation of AFRICOM toward
Africa and toward Morocco, in particular. Halim said that no
matter how well intentioned AFRICOM may be, its plan for a
presence in Africa, however diffused, is "seen by most
African countries as a provocation, given the backdrop of the
current U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan."


3. (C) Halim considered the perception of AFRICOM intentions
in Africa to be very bad among African countries; this
perception having been compounded by the high-profile media
coverage of AFRICOM's planned orientation toward Africa. He
noted, with irony, that the broad opposition to AFRICOM's
planned presence in Africa was the first time in his career
that he had ever seen fifty-three African countries agree on
anything. He recommended that AFRICOM's presence should
remain completely European-based and have military relations
handled in a traditional bilateral manner through U.S.
Embassies in each country.

Regional Orientation Also Misplaced
--------------


4. (C) Halim was also critical of AFRICOM's planned diffused
sub-regional orientation, calling it a confusing model and
inappropriate for the African context. He said that the
overriding orientation of most African countries was to seek
better bilateral relations with the U.S. (in this case,
within a military context) with little regard, or even
disdain, for putting military dialogue within a regional
context.


5. (C) Halim considered AFRICOM's orientation toward
collective African organizations (e.g., African Union,
ECOWAS, and African Maghreb Union) to be misplaced. Halim
expressed frustration that AFRICOM appeared to be opening up
dialogue with groups like the African Union, a group from
which Morocco is excluded. He added that some subregional
groupings being contemplated by AFRICOM (such as around Sudan
and Nigeria) would not succeed since, in the case of Sudan,
there is no military interlocutor with which AFRICOM can
deal, and in the case of Nigeria, the military is very small
and has a completely different agenda than its neighbors. In
sum, Halim opined that AFRICOM should emphasize countries and

not sub-regional or other African groups.

Military Also Cautious But Less Critical
--------------


6. (C) In early April, Moroccan COL Mohamed Rafia (Senior
Advisor to Chief of Military Logistics Major General Tamdi)
told our ODC Chief that Morocco was in a good position to
host an AFRICOM element but that given today,s global
political climate and the negative perception of the current
U.S. administration in the Arab world, Morocco would have to
wait until after the U.S. presidential election before
considering hosting an AFRICOM HQ element or other entity.
Although underscoring the extensive and positive military
cooperation between the GOM and the United States, Rafia
criticized AFRICOM,s regional, specifically African Union,
focus, adding that the relationship could best be improved if
kept in a bilateral orientation.


7. (C) Comment: Although it looks more to the Arab World
and even Europe and the United States, Morocco remains deeply
engaged in Africa. Halim's views appear to reflect those of
his bosses. The Embassy has been receiving an increasingly
negative message from the Moroccan MFA over the last year
regarding an AFRICOM presence in Africa, contrasting with
more positive signals coming from Moroccan military
interlocutors of the Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation.
Among the public, however, AFRICOM's presence is also
controversial. Almost any U.S. military activity evokes
press coverage raising concerns about AFRICOM possibly
establishing a base in Morocco. General Ward may wish to
reiterate that AFRICOM will be headquartered in Stuttgart
during his next visit to Morocco. End Comment.


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Riley