Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DJIBOUTI43
2009-01-16 20:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
FMF PROJECT GREATLY IMPROVES DJIBOUTIS MARITIME SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO9423 RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDJ #0043 0162042 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 162042Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0017 INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RHMCSUU/CJTF HOA RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000043
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E
AF/PD
AND PM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PHSA EAID DJ
SUBJECT: FMF PROJECT GREATLY IMPROVES DJIBOUTIS MARITIME SECURITY
UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000043
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E
AF/PD
AND PM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PHSA EAID DJ
SUBJECT: FMF PROJECT GREATLY IMPROVES DJIBOUTIS MARITIME SECURITY
1. SUMMARY. A $14.2 million Foreign Military Funding (FMF)
project to improve naval facilities in the northern Djibouti
port city of Obock will significantly improve GODJ capacity to
protect its littoral frontier in the vicinity of the strategic
Bab-el-Mandeb strait. Related USG programs to furnish fast
patrol boats and Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC)
will further enhance Djibouti's naval presence and capability in
the north. END SUMMARY.
2. Embassy Djibouti, along with Djibouti's Ministry of National
Defense, dedicated the $14.2M Obock Pier Project on January 14.
This is the largest single FMF case ever completed in sub-
Saharan Africa. The military facility included a ninety meter
pier, capable of mooring up to four patrol boats; an
administration and berthing building, including office space and
billeting for thirty sailors; utilities, including a fully
automated fuel and water storage and distribution system, fire
suppression system, and backup power; and security fencing. A
civilian commercial and fishing facility was built to mitigate
the loss of space due to the military construction. It includes
a forty-five meter pier, a boat ramp, an ice house with dual
ice-making machines, and a classroom/utility room. Construction
on the project began in April 2007 and was completed in November
2008.
3. The pier project is one aspect of a comprehensive program to
improve Djibouti's ability to monitor and control its
territorial waters. The embassy delivered two fifty-five foot
SeaArk Marine Dauntless patrol boats to the Djiboutian Navy
through a $2.6M FMF case. These vessels represent a tremendous
improvement in Djibouti's capacity to interdict bad actors in
its littoral space. Additionally, the RMAC program is in
development. This program will provide Djibouti's navy with a
comprehensive surveillance program, including radar, an
Automatic Identification System (AIS),long-range thermal
cameras, and closed-circuit cameras. The $7.9M Section 1206
program is under development. It is approximately 25% complete
and expected to be finished in July 2009. These programs,
combined with ongoing training and exchanges will greatly
increase the Djiboutian Navy's capacity in protecting critical
infrastructure and in combating piracy, terrorist movements,
smuggling and human trafficking.
4. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries and the local
population, and received extensive local media coverage.
Speakers included Djibouti's Prime Minister, Minister of
National Defense, Chief of Naval Operations, and local prefect.
The U.S. Ambassador and the Commander of Combined Joint Task
Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) also made public addresses.
Other attendees included the Djiboutian Ministers of Transport,
Cooperation, and Fishing; the Armed Forces of Djibouti's Chief
of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff; and the Commander of French
Forces, Djibouti.
5. COMMENT. These programs will have immediate impact on
Djiboutian defense capability. Djibouti's Chief of Naval
Operations plans to double the Djiboutian naval presence in
Obock from 25 to 50 personnel, and to establish a permanent
command. Fuel stores in Obock will permit patrol vessels to
perform longer patrols on the northern coast (rather than
returning to Djibouti City to refuel). Improved port facilities
will also support re-supply of GODJ forces on the border with
Eritrea; these GODJ forces receive supplies by convoy from Obock
after arrival by boat from Djibouti. We expect the program to
improve the GODJ's ability to address illegal trade and human
trafficking to Yemen, as well as enhance its posture with regard
to piracy, illegal fishing and environmental violations, while
strengthening its defense against Eritrea. END COMMENT.
SWAN
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:9f5fcb17-e4bc- 490d-acb3-1c97afbffa5c
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/E
AF/PD
AND PM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PHSA EAID DJ
SUBJECT: FMF PROJECT GREATLY IMPROVES DJIBOUTIS MARITIME SECURITY
1. SUMMARY. A $14.2 million Foreign Military Funding (FMF)
project to improve naval facilities in the northern Djibouti
port city of Obock will significantly improve GODJ capacity to
protect its littoral frontier in the vicinity of the strategic
Bab-el-Mandeb strait. Related USG programs to furnish fast
patrol boats and Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC)
will further enhance Djibouti's naval presence and capability in
the north. END SUMMARY.
2. Embassy Djibouti, along with Djibouti's Ministry of National
Defense, dedicated the $14.2M Obock Pier Project on January 14.
This is the largest single FMF case ever completed in sub-
Saharan Africa. The military facility included a ninety meter
pier, capable of mooring up to four patrol boats; an
administration and berthing building, including office space and
billeting for thirty sailors; utilities, including a fully
automated fuel and water storage and distribution system, fire
suppression system, and backup power; and security fencing. A
civilian commercial and fishing facility was built to mitigate
the loss of space due to the military construction. It includes
a forty-five meter pier, a boat ramp, an ice house with dual
ice-making machines, and a classroom/utility room. Construction
on the project began in April 2007 and was completed in November
2008.
3. The pier project is one aspect of a comprehensive program to
improve Djibouti's ability to monitor and control its
territorial waters. The embassy delivered two fifty-five foot
SeaArk Marine Dauntless patrol boats to the Djiboutian Navy
through a $2.6M FMF case. These vessels represent a tremendous
improvement in Djibouti's capacity to interdict bad actors in
its littoral space. Additionally, the RMAC program is in
development. This program will provide Djibouti's navy with a
comprehensive surveillance program, including radar, an
Automatic Identification System (AIS),long-range thermal
cameras, and closed-circuit cameras. The $7.9M Section 1206
program is under development. It is approximately 25% complete
and expected to be finished in July 2009. These programs,
combined with ongoing training and exchanges will greatly
increase the Djiboutian Navy's capacity in protecting critical
infrastructure and in combating piracy, terrorist movements,
smuggling and human trafficking.
4. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries and the local
population, and received extensive local media coverage.
Speakers included Djibouti's Prime Minister, Minister of
National Defense, Chief of Naval Operations, and local prefect.
The U.S. Ambassador and the Commander of Combined Joint Task
Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) also made public addresses.
Other attendees included the Djiboutian Ministers of Transport,
Cooperation, and Fishing; the Armed Forces of Djibouti's Chief
of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff; and the Commander of French
Forces, Djibouti.
5. COMMENT. These programs will have immediate impact on
Djiboutian defense capability. Djibouti's Chief of Naval
Operations plans to double the Djiboutian naval presence in
Obock from 25 to 50 personnel, and to establish a permanent
command. Fuel stores in Obock will permit patrol vessels to
perform longer patrols on the northern coast (rather than
returning to Djibouti City to refuel). Improved port facilities
will also support re-supply of GODJ forces on the border with
Eritrea; these GODJ forces receive supplies by convoy from Obock
after arrival by boat from Djibouti. We expect the program to
improve the GODJ's ability to address illegal trade and human
trafficking to Yemen, as well as enhance its posture with regard
to piracy, illegal fishing and environmental violations, while
strengthening its defense against Eritrea. END COMMENT.
SWAN
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:9f5fcb17-e4bc- 490d-acb3-1c97afbffa5c