AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000356 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, AF/W, AF/S, AF/E, AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EU XA AU SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH EU DIRECTOR GENERAL Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: AF Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Carter, joined by Acting USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl Gast, met with European Commission Director General for Development Stefano Manservisi on February 1 on the margins of the African Union Summit. Carter sought EU support for police training under Security Sector Reform (SSR). Carter also urged the EU to align itself more with the USG on Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mauritania, Guinea, and Senegal policies. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Manservisi asked what the EU could expect from the new Administration. Carter said the international community can expect increased engagement from the new Administration, particularly in global issues such as climate change, food security, and nuclear non-proliferation. There will be significant areas where there will be broad consistency with the prior Administration,s positions on Africa, but a policy review is underway, which will seek to increase the effectiveness of our development efforts. The USG will also seek ways to work better with the EU and others, on jointly achieving our development goals. ¶3. (C) Carter noted the United States is prevented from offering all but very limited police training under SSR due to legal constraints. The USG is seeking support from partners to provide this training while the United States focuses on military training. A common strategy to determine SSR needs and coordinate contributions from donors would optimize both spending and effectiveness. Manservisi concurred, but expressed concern that on the development side, while the United States and the EU are working together, the actual collaboration could be tighter. Carter added that productive partner relationships should include countries such as China, India, and Russia. ¶4. (C) On Sudan, Manservisi expressed deep concern on the part of the EU, and acknowledged that the issues are extremely complex. He appeared not to be aware of the fragile security situation in the South Sudan town of Muhajeriya, or the imminent bombing threat by the Government of Sudan. On Somalia, Manservisi noted the good news in terms of the election of an expanded parliament, election of a new President, the standing-up of the Joint (TFG/ARS) Security Forces, and increasing support for AMISOM. Carter pushed to find out what the EU could do to support a police force in Somalia, and said Somalia cannot expect any influx of aid without better accountability. Gast said the USG has $15 million in FY 2009 funds to assist Somalia. Carter added that Somalis need critical institutions such as an attorney general, a Central Bank, and other institutions before development aid flows in a big way. ¶5. (C) On Zimbabwe, Manservisi said the EU cannot engage with Mugabe. Carter explained that the United States is looking for concrete measures from the government to gauge success or failure, and would continue to provide humanitarian assistance but would hold up further assistance until it sees positive results. He said the USG will not provide support for Mugabe,s "cronies." Both sides agreed that the situation is very fragile and could fall apart. ¶6. (C) On Mauritania, Manservisi advised that the EU provides soft support for an election to help build a democracy. Carter stressed the need for the EU to remain tough and adopt sanctions, placing additional pressure on junta leader General Aziz to force him to step aside. The imprisonment of President Abdallahi,s Prime Minister and other supporters is unacceptable. Carter said the EU is softening on General Aziz and implored Manservisi to ensure the EU holds the line. Manservisi advised that the EU will try to remain tough, but the United States should not forget the EU is comprised of many countries and it takes time to build consensus. Carter said it is important for the EU to mirror the AU position vis-a-vis Mauritania, as the AU looks to the EU as a model government entity. On Guinea, Carter said the country needs to reinstitute national assembly elections and restore the constitution. Guinea is a collapsing fiefdom with enormous drug trafficking problems. It is on the verge of imploding, and the rest of the country ADDIS ABAB 00000356 002 OF 002 has no connection to the capital. Regarding Senegal, Carter noted the weakening of democracy. President Wade is "knocking out" the pillars of democracy to pave the way for his son to succeed him. The United States intends to be more cautious about spending development funds in Senegal because of the lack of transparency and corruption. ¶7. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, the EC's Director for General Affairs advised that AFRICOM had approached his office about working more closely together. There were no specific details on follow-up action, but the EC official wanted the USG to know that the Europeans will be glad to cooperate. Carter informed him that the Department,s Africa Bureau would be happy to field EU requests for coordination and cooperation with the USG on Africa. ¶8. (U) Acting A/S Carter approved this message. YAMAMOTO