A TRIP TO GAO HIGHLIGHTS MISSION OBJECTIVES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000686

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2019
TAGS: MARR ML PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: A TRIP TO GAO HIGHLIGHTS MISSION OBJECTIVES

REF: BAMAKO 538

Classified By: Political Counselor Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

1.(SBU) Summary: On September 23, the Ambassador traveled to
Gao to participate in the closing ceremony of a bilateral
training (BILAT) exercise conducted by U.S. Army Special
Forces alongside the Malian Army's Echelon Tactique
Inter-Armes (ETIA) number one. Following the ceremony, the
Ambassador discussed USG development programs with the
Governor of Gao region, Colonel Kalifa Keita. The BILAT
closing ceremony highlighted the importance of US-Mali
cooperation in Mali's efforts to confront Al Qaeda in the
Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),while the meeting with
Colonel Keita underscored once more that security assistance
must be seen within the wider framework of achieving
stability through economic development. End Summary.

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Training Exercises
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2. (S) On September 23, the Ambassador traveled to Gao to
Participate in the closing ceremony of a bilateral training
exercise conducted by U.S. Army Special Forces alongside the
Malian Army's Echelon Tactique Inter-Armes (ETIA) number one.
In addition to various Malian representatives, the
Ambassador was accompanied on the trip by the Deputy Chief of
Mission from the Embassy of France, as well as the French
Defense and Police/Security Attaches to Mali. The Ambassador
invited the French representatives to promote coordination
between the two missions to demonstrate that the respective
security assistance programs of France and the United States
are complementary and reinforcing.


3. (S) The four week intensive training covered infantry
techniques and tactics, patrol planning, ambushes and raids,
advanced medical training, heavy weapons training,
marksmanship, and officer development courses. The BILAT of
ETIA number one, as well as the upcoming Joint Combined
Exchange Training (JCET) of ETIA numbers four and six, are
significant because, as reported reftel, the units being
trained make up the special, self-supporting task forces
established by the Malian Ministry of Defense to target Al
Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Ministry
of Defense plans are to have three ETIAs fully trained,
operational, and ready to be deployed to northern Mali by
December 1. The BILAT of ETIA number one and the JCETs for
ETIA numbers four and six are a key component in the
Ministry's plans to get those task forces in operational
status. Asked for an assessment on the capabilities of the
ETIA to combat AQIM, one American military officer associated
with the training indicated that while the ETIA is far from
meeting American military standards, the men of the ETIA will
fight when asked, and have the basic levels of competence
required to perform the tasks anticipated of them.

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A Meeting with the Governor
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4. (SBU) Following the BILAT closing ceremony, the Ambassador
met with the Governor of Gao Region, Colonel Kalifa Keita.
Almost immediately, the Governor directed the conversation to
the subject of development assistance, emphasizing that,
while the people of Gao are grateful for U.S. security
assistance, aid could not stop there but must include
assistance in the economic realm. The Governor presented the
Ambassador with a written list of three development projects
in which he felt there was potential for U.S. involvement.
Choosing one of these projects for illustration, the Governor
discussed "irrigated perimeters" in agriculture, noting that
although Burkina Faso and Mauritania had had great success in
this irrigation technique, it has not been adequately
utilized in Gao due to lack of funds for investment.


5. (SBU) The President of the Gao Regional Assembly, Mohamed
Ould Idriss, was also present at the meeting, and expressed
the view that both the Malian government and foreign donors
have it within their power to diminish the influence of
traffickers and terrorists through involvement in regional
development. "If we don't occupy the terrain, the
traffickers will occupy it," Idriss explained. This and the
Governor's remarks were consistent with President ATT's
long-standing emphasis on security and development being two
sides of the same coin and his desire to see increased
development activity in the North to consolidate and
reinforce any security gains.


6. (U) The Ambassador began by noting that the United States

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is Mali's largest provider of bilateral aid. The Ambassador
provided a brief overview of several USAID projects in the
domains of education, agriculture, and health. She
emphasized that USG assistance is focused on building
capacity rather than providing direct infrastructure
development. The Ambassador spoke of the fundamental link
between development and security, noting that it is difficult
to have one without the other. While welcoming all
suggestions for further American assistance, the Ambassador
emphasized that the Malian government must take ownership of
the projects that the United States has undertaken. Citing
as an example the multi-purpose building that the JCET team
had refurbished on Gao's air base, the Ambassador alluded to
the importance of the Malians taking responsibility for the
maintenance of materials and projects initially provided by
foreign aid. To this the Governor indicated his complete
agreement, and undertook a personal commitment to ensure the
multi-purpose building in Gao would be maintained.

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Comment
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7. (U) The September 23 trip to Gao demonstrated clearly the
range and appropriate focus of Embassy Bamako's mission
objectives, and underscored the importance of viewing
development and security efforts in Northern Mali as
integrally linked and mutually reinforcing processes. As the
Ambassador emphasized to Governor Keita, the United States is
an active partner in both areas, and if the Malian government
does what is within its power to build upon the assistance it
is offering, both Malian and American interests in the region
will be advanced.


MILOVANOVIC