Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DJIBOUTI1099
2009-09-10 14:23:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
DJIBOUTI/SOMALIA: FRENCH-TRAINED TFG FORCES TO RETURN TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2536 RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDJ #1099 2531423 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101423Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0754 INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001099
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/10
TAGS: PINS MASS PREL DJ SO FR
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI/SOMALIA: FRENCH-TRAINED TFG FORCES TO RETURN TO
MOGADISHU
CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001099
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/10
TAGS: PINS MASS PREL DJ SO FR
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI/SOMALIA: FRENCH-TRAINED TFG FORCES TO RETURN TO
MOGADISHU
CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
1.(C) The first contingent of French-trained Somali Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) forces will begin returning to Mogadishu
o/a Sept. 18, according to the Commander of French Forces in
Djibouti (FFDJ),BG Thierry Caspar-Fille-Lambie. This contingent
of 150 recruits will just have completed a six-week basic infantry
course. The French have committed to train a total of 500 Somali
forces in Djibouti. A second tranche of 374 TFG troops is to begin
arriving in Djibouti o/a Sept. 26 to receive French training,
according to the Somali Charge in Djibouti, Abdirahman Hirabe.
2. (C) Caspar told Ambassador Sept. 7 that the French had "made
soldiers" of the raw recruits, although the training was brief and
covered only individual skills (and not small-unit operations, as
the Djiboutian-provided training does). A visiting member of a
European Union delegation that observed the French training Sept. 4
told us the recruits appeared well-motivated. Each day began with
a symbolic raising of the Somali and Djiboutian flags to instill
national pride, and the trainees sang patriotic songs during a
display of marching for the visitors. The EU representative
reported that most of the French trainees were Hawiye, albeit from
two different sub-clans (Abgal and Hawadle). Caspar said the
recruits assured him of their eagerness to return to Somalia to
fight al-Shabaab.
3. (C) Caspar explained that the TFG had committed to maintain the
French-trained cohort as a single operational unit upon its return
to Somalia. Djiboutian officers participated as observers in the
French training program, he said, both to monitor the training
being conducted in their country and to assist with interpretation.
Somali Charge Hirabe told us he has pressed the TFG leadership to
ensure that all necessary preparations (lodging, food, equipment,
payment, etc.) are in place when the trainees return to Mogadishu.
TFG training coordinator Col. Mahdi personally traveled to the
Somali capital to implore top security officials to ensure
appropriate arrangements are in place for their return.
4. (C) The French-trained recruits will return to Mogadishu on
regularly scheduled passenger airlines linking Djibouti and
Mogadishu. Caspar said the French did not plan any media for the
return of the first group of trainees. Instead, the FFDJ will hold
a public event later in the fall (TBD) to mark completion of the
training of the full 500.
SWAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/10
TAGS: PINS MASS PREL DJ SO FR
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI/SOMALIA: FRENCH-TRAINED TFG FORCES TO RETURN TO
MOGADISHU
CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
1.(C) The first contingent of French-trained Somali Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) forces will begin returning to Mogadishu
o/a Sept. 18, according to the Commander of French Forces in
Djibouti (FFDJ),BG Thierry Caspar-Fille-Lambie. This contingent
of 150 recruits will just have completed a six-week basic infantry
course. The French have committed to train a total of 500 Somali
forces in Djibouti. A second tranche of 374 TFG troops is to begin
arriving in Djibouti o/a Sept. 26 to receive French training,
according to the Somali Charge in Djibouti, Abdirahman Hirabe.
2. (C) Caspar told Ambassador Sept. 7 that the French had "made
soldiers" of the raw recruits, although the training was brief and
covered only individual skills (and not small-unit operations, as
the Djiboutian-provided training does). A visiting member of a
European Union delegation that observed the French training Sept. 4
told us the recruits appeared well-motivated. Each day began with
a symbolic raising of the Somali and Djiboutian flags to instill
national pride, and the trainees sang patriotic songs during a
display of marching for the visitors. The EU representative
reported that most of the French trainees were Hawiye, albeit from
two different sub-clans (Abgal and Hawadle). Caspar said the
recruits assured him of their eagerness to return to Somalia to
fight al-Shabaab.
3. (C) Caspar explained that the TFG had committed to maintain the
French-trained cohort as a single operational unit upon its return
to Somalia. Djiboutian officers participated as observers in the
French training program, he said, both to monitor the training
being conducted in their country and to assist with interpretation.
Somali Charge Hirabe told us he has pressed the TFG leadership to
ensure that all necessary preparations (lodging, food, equipment,
payment, etc.) are in place when the trainees return to Mogadishu.
TFG training coordinator Col. Mahdi personally traveled to the
Somali capital to implore top security officials to ensure
appropriate arrangements are in place for their return.
4. (C) The French-trained recruits will return to Mogadishu on
regularly scheduled passenger airlines linking Djibouti and
Mogadishu. Caspar said the French did not plan any media for the
return of the first group of trainees. Instead, the FFDJ will hold
a public event later in the fall (TBD) to mark completion of the
training of the full 500.
SWAN