USAU: SUPPORT FOR AMISOM FORTHCOMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000154

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/RSA, IO/UNP AND PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2019
TAGS: PREL UN SO AU
SUBJECT: USAU: SUPPORT FOR AMISOM FORTHCOMING

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 108

B. ADDIS ABABA 49

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) Summary: At a meeting on January 17 at the African
Union (AU),the U.S., EU, and other international partners
voiced their support for AMISOM as well as for the joint
Transitional Federal Government/Alliance for the
Re-Liberation of Somalia (TFG/ARS) forces. The AU and its
partners also expressed their appreciation to the UN Security
Council for adopting Resolution 1863, which provides for the
support of AMISOM in preparation for a decision by June 1,
2009, to replace AMISOM with a full-fledged UN Peacekeeping
Operation. Earlier, AU and UN officials provided
participants with a relatively positive readout on the
political and security situation in Somalia. End Summary.


2. (C) On January 17, the international community gave the AU
and the countries that have contributed troops to AMISOM the
news they had been waiting for: help is on the way.


3. (C) The US, the EU, the UK, and China all announced
specific commitments that responded directly to several of
the AMISOM force commander's requested needs. As reported in
ref A, the U.S. will equip the three newly identified
battalions (Burundi, Uganda, and Nigeria),and has already
ordered equipment for the first two. The U.S. will also
provide sustainment for all seven battalions, including fuel,
food, medicines, communications and accommodations.
Additionally, the U.S. has committed $5 million to support
the TFG/ARS troops on an in-kind basis. The Ambassador also
stated that the U.S. is providing an FM transmitter and MIST
support to enhance AMISOM's messaging. (Note: The U.S. has
also been actively engaged with the AU and the UN to arrange
for the transport of UNMEE equipment, including vehicles,
water purification units, and collapsible containers, from
Asmara to Mogadishu. A ship carrying that equipment is due
to set sail on January 21. End Note.)


4. (C) The EU confirmed that it would provide 20 million
Euros in the immediate term, and that a newly established 300
Euro African Peace Facility could also be "at the disposal of
AMISOM." The EU wants a UN financial management team to
bring their financial expertise to the AU to help reinforce
the AU's accountability mechanisms. In addition, the EU will
loan the AU four temporary planners from the EU military
staff to lend their expertise to the AU's Strategic Planning
and Management Unit. The EU was more cautious on the issue
of support for the joint Somali forces. While the EU expects
to respond positively to that request, it is still seeking
clarification on the "nature and responsibilities" of the
Somali forces, and on AMISOM's role vis-a-vis the joint
forces.


5. (C) For its part, the UK was less specific about the
amount of its contribution to AMISOM. The UK has committed
10 million Pounds to AMISOM to date, and it hopes to donate a
similar amount to the trust fund established under UNSC
Resolution 1863. The UK could make an unspecified sum of
money available before the end of March. As for UK support
for the TFG/ARS forces, the issue was "under active
consideration in London," a British diplomat told the
gathering.


6. (C) Others voiced their support for AMISOM and the TFG/ARS
forces as well. The Arab League Ambassador noted concerns
about the piracy problem off the Somali coast and said that
there would be an announcement of Arab League funding to help
address the Somali crisis. The Organization of the Islamic
Conference representative referred to developments in Somalia
as a "tragedy for mankind" and added that the OIC has a
strong commitment to help support AMISOM. China noted its
$300,000 contribution to the AU to support AMISOM and
announced it would give an additional 5 million Renminbi to
both Uganda and Burundi for this purpose.


7. (U) The Algerian Permanent Representative to the AU, who
is serving as the current president of the AU Peace and
Security Council and whose country has offered to provide an
airlift to the AMISOM troops, said that the Somali crisis "is
a challenge that must be won. If we do not succeed in this
endeavor, it will be a catastrophe for Somalia, and a failure
for all of us." Several AU partners expressed their

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satisfaction with the UNSC's adoption earlier in the week of
Resolution 1863. There were also statements about the need
for the international community to mobilize urgent support to
address the dire humanitarian situation in Somalia.


8. (U) The January 17 meeting began with a review of the
political and security situation on the ground in Somalia.
Speaking about the rapidly approaching process that is
supposed to lead to the election of a new Somali President,
Ambassador Nicolas Bwakira, the AU's Special Representative
of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, said he had received
assurances from all partners that the Transitional Federal
Charter of Somalia "would be fully respected. Bwakira also
discounted recent press reports of fighting in Mogadishu.
"The situation is under control," he asserted. The reason
the joint Somali forces need international support is that
the situation remains "fragile," Bwakira added.


9. (U) Somali Defense Minister Abdallah "Boss" Ahmed echoed
Bwakira's analysis of the security atmosphere, and he, too,
called for "urgent international assistance" for the forces
replacing the Ethiopian National Defense Forces that have
pulled out of Mogadishu. AMISOM's force commander, General
Okello, also cited the challenge AMISOM troops face in the
wake of the Ethiopian withdrawal, including the
"psychological boost" the withdrawal provided the insurgents,
and the lack of cohesiveness of the TFG. On the positive
side, Okello reported that 10,000 Somalis demonstrated in
support of peace in Mogadishu, and that Somali elders at a
rally had called for peace and a halt to attacks against
AMISOM troops. Looking ahead, Okello outlined the needs for
a more robust mission, including stepped up intelligence, air
assets, armored vehicles, and small boats to patrol the
waters around Mogadishu.


10. (U) At the conclusion of the meeting, the AU issued a
public statement that accurately represented the events of
the meeting, but failed to capture completely the very
positive tone of the exchange.

YAMAMOTO