USAU: AU PARTNERS DISCUSS SUPPORT FOR AMISOM,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000108 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019 TAGS: PREL SO AU SUBJECT: USAU: AU PARTNERS DISCUSS SUPPORT FOR AMISOM, SOMALI FORCES REF: ADDIS ABABA 49 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) As reported in reftel, the AU invited the US, EU, UK, and others to a meeting on January 17 in Addis Ababa to discuss their respective abilities to commit financial and logistical support to AMISOM and to a joint security force composed of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) elements. The USAU met with EU and UK diplomats on January 16 to review what each was expecting to provide based on consultations this week with Washington, Brussels, and London. ¶2. (C) The US made clear to the other partners that we will equip the three newly identified battalions (Burundi, Uganda, and Nigeria),and have already ordered the equipment for the first two. We also noted that because the Ugandans have come in with a much larger equipment request than we were expecting, and because the Nigerian equipment request is costlier, any savings from the pledged Algerian airlift would be canceled out. We informed the partners that the US will provide sustainment for all seven battalions, including fuel, food, medicines, communications, and accommodations (tents). At a meeting earlier in the day with the UN Technical Assistance Mission (TAM),Ambassador learned that the most immediate need for the TFG-ARS is food (see septel). ¶3. (C) The Ambassador also informed the partners that the US has committed $5 million to support the TFG/ARS troops, and that it is our preference to provide in-kind support, such as food and fuel. He emphasized that the US support would be to those troops identified as loyal to the recognized government of Somalia, and that the USG would be guided by the Joint Security Committee. Additionally, the US is providing an FM transmitter and MIST support to enhance AMISOM's messaging. Finally, the Ambassador described steps being taken in collaboration with the UN to transport the UNMEE equipment, including vehicles, water purification units, and collapsible containers, to Mogadishu. If issues such as indemnification for the equipment cannot be resolved before the ship is scheduled to depart from Eritrea on January 21, then the equipment will be shipped to Brindisi. ¶4. (C) For his part, the EU Ambassador reported that the EU remains committed to providing 20 million Euros. Once the details of this grant are finalized, there could potentially be more support from the EU's 300 million Euro Peace Facility. The EU could consider additional funding for food, to meet the immediate need, and security sector reform. The EU also wants a UN financial management team to bring their expertise to the AU to help reinforce the AU's accountability mechanisms. ¶5. (C) The UK representatives at the meeting said that the UK was committed to its existing salary payments for AMISOM troops, adding that there would be an additional tranche (amount was unspecified due to need for more information from London) after April 1 for a trust fund, and an additional amount of funds this fiscal year that would be available by the end of March from unspent balances in other accounts (also unspecified). The UK insisted that this latter amount should not cover AMISOM "recurring" costs, and would be best used for "extra capacity requirements." With regard to potential support for the TFG/ARS troops, the UK offered no further information, noting that their government was very sensitive about how UK support was being received domestically (i.e. parliament and the Somali Diaspora). The UK shares the US concern that donors not be perceived as paying clan militias. ¶6. (U) In addition to the support brought by the US, UK, and EU, AMISOM could receive a portion of Italy's 100 million Euros Peace Facility and Spain's 10 million Euro facility. The AU also has access to $1.6 million in unspent funds from Sweden, and $2.5 million in unspent funds from Italy. The AU's "very urgent" diplomatic note of January 12 was addressed to the USAU, EU, UK, NATO, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. France has subsequently been invited to the January 17 meeting as well. YAMAMOTO