DJIBOUTI: FOREIGN MINISTER ON POSSIBLE AMISOM DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001147 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/23 TAGS: PREL KPKO AU DJ SO SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FOREIGN MINISTER ON POSSIBLE AMISOM DEPLOYMENT REF: 09 DJIBOUTI 743; 09 DJIBOUTI 915; 09 DJIBOUTI 1089 CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) 1.(C) Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told Ambassador September 22 that Djibouti remains committed to deploy forces to the African Union Mission in Somalia (reftels). This commitment has not been shaken by the bombing of the AMISOM compound in Mogadishu September 17. Following the decisions of the African Union Summit in Sirte in July, the GODJ is now satisfied that there is no impediment within the mandate of AMISOM to deployment of forces from countries bordering Somalia (e.g., Djibouti). Indeed, he said, the AU leadership is now pressing Djibouti to formalize in writing its commitment to deploy forces. Youssouf said progress on deployment requires (1) a GODJ policy decision regarding the number and mission of the forces; and (2) completion of logistical arrangements, equipping, etc., for the troops. No specific preparations are currently underway to deploy, he conceded. 2.(C) Youssouf acknowledged that the Djiboutian military leadership is "reluctant" to send forces to Somalia, in view of their many other current missions (protecting Djibouti from potential terrorist threats; securing the northern border with Eritrea; training Somali TFG forces; and hosting the November EASBRIG FTX). He hinted that the GODJ may decrease the size of deployment under consideration for AMISOM. Rather than the 400-plus troops earlier proposed, Djibouti might instead provide a smaller contingent of trainers to improve the professional skills of NCOs and lower-level officers of TFG forces in Mogadishu. ¶3. (C) Comment: Youssouf confirms earlier reports that - although committed in principle - the GODJ is not actively preparing forces for deployment to AMISOM (ref c). He accepts that a deployment decision is now a matter for the GODJ and that nothing in the AMISOM mandate precludes Djibouti from sending send troops. Djibouti will likely require equipment and transport support - at a minimum - to deploy, but to date has made no request of the USG. SWAN