EU SOLICITS U.S. PARTICIPATION IN DRC SSR MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001287 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/E WOLPE, S/GWI FOR JSOSNE, SGHORI, L FOR KGOROVE, S/P FOR CPOWELL, MPATEL, AF/C FOR CLAMORA, S/CRS FOR SPIERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019 TAGS: MOPS MARR PHUM PREL ZF CG EUN SUBJECT: EU SOLICITS U.S. PARTICIPATION IN DRC SSR MISSION -- REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 1234 ¶B. STATE 94421 ¶C. KINSHASA 822 Classified By: Pol M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On September 16, the EU extended an official invitation to the United States to participate in its security sector reform (SSR) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (EUSEC RD Congo). EU officials have broached this topic with us before (REF A),but this meeting constitutes the first official invitation we have received. The EU's director of military operations and exercises, Didier Lenoir, said the EU would be flexible in accepting U.S. offers of assistance, allowing the USG to design positions within EUSEC that fit its national priorities and interests. The EU hopes that U.S. participation in EUSEC will provide for closer coordination of international SSR efforts in the DRC (REF B). USEU requests guidance on whether the USG is interested in participating in EUSEC, and on what particular areas we would like our contribution to focus. If the USG accepts the EU's invitation to participate, a formal process begins, including the negotiation of a participation agreement. End Summary. INVITING U.S. PARTICIPATION IN EUSEC ¶2. (SBU) On September 16, at the EU's request, PolOff attended a meeting with Didier Lenoir, the head of the EU's military operations and exercises unit, and two staffers. Lenoir said the EU had requested the meeting to invite U.S. participation in the EUSEC SSR mission. At the request of the EU Member States, Lenoir said, his unit would invite participation from four non-EU members: the U.S., Norway, South Africa and Angola. Lenoir said the EU will approach DRC authorities this week to seek at least de facto approval of the participation of non-EU members in the mission, but does not expect any difficulty gaining that approval. FLEXIBILITY ON THE U.S. ROLE ¶3. (SBU) Lenoir said if the U.S. decides to participate in EUSEC, the EU will be very flexible in allowing us to define the role our personnel play in the mission. At present, the EU has a list of 60 unfilled posts in the mission, but Lenoir stressed, "Don't be limited by the list of posts. Let us know what your top priorities are and we can tailor a position that will provide synergy with U.S. bilateral efforts." The EU can be "imaginative," he said, within the broad outlines of EUSEC's mandate. U.S. personnel could focus on issues such as gender-based violence, infantry doctrine, logistics and budget issues, or any number of other specific projects. In a meeting on September 4, the pol-mil counselor from the Swedish EU Presidency made similar comments, saying the EU will seek to accommodate U.S. priorities and tailor a position in EUSEC if we choose to participate. EUSEC ENTERING A NEW PHASE ¶4. (SBU) On September 15, EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels approved a new mandate for EUSEC. Lenoir said that under the new mandate, EUSEC will focus on implementing specific projects in support of the new SSR plan approved by Congolese authorities in May 2009. In particular, EUSEC will focus on six areas: 1) supporting the structures Congolese authorities put in place to implement the new plan; 2) developing detailed plans to rebuild the FARDC, specifically in the areas of administration, operational capabilities, budget and finance, training, logistics, human rights and combating sexual violence, and human resources; 3) identifying and initiating specific projects in support of the new SSR plan; 4) helping to integrate ex-combatants into the FARDC; 5) supporting the EU Special Representative in the context of peace negotiations in the east; 6) supporting cross-cutting activities, particularly in the area of human rights and gender issues. Lenoir gave USEU a copy of the EU's new Joint Action, which establishes the new mandate, and promised to send us a copy of the EU's draft operations plan, BRUSSELS 00001287 002 OF 002 which will probably be approved by EU Ambassadors on September 25. USEU will forward these documents to EUR/ERA via email. ¶5. (SBU) The EUSEC mission, which has been in place since 2005, is legally and financially characterized as a civilian crisis management mission. The focus of the mission, however, is military reform. The 47 personnel assigned to the mission are a mix of active duty military, retired military, and civilian experts. COMMENT AND REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ¶6. (SBU) USEU requests guidance on the U.S. desire to participate in EUSEC and on the specific role the USG would like its participants to play in the EU mission. If the USG agrees to participate, a formal process begins, including the negotiation of a participation agreement similar to the agreement in place for U.S. participation in the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. ¶7. (C) Comment: Formal U.S. participation in EUSEC could help bring greater coordination to international SSR efforts on the ground in the DRC and make it more difficult for Congolese authorities to play donors off against one another (REF B). We could also leverage participation in EUSEC to ensure EU support for and coordination with the SSR initiatives on gender-based violence envisioned in REF C. End Comment. MURRAY .