MISSION KAMPALA CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 000112 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SUBJECT: MISSION KAMPALA CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF AFRICA - COUNTERINSURGENCY ENGAGEMENT 1206 PROPOSAL Classified By: Ambassador Steven A. Browning, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) Summary: U.S. Mission Kampala has reviewed and supports S/CT's proposal to provide training in Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Counterinsurgency Operations to Uganda to help build its capacity to perform these operations in an effective manner that respects human rights. Mission Kampala concurrence for this project is based on assurances from Washington that the project will be sufficiently flexible to allow for Mission input in shaping a program that reflects both local conditions and the ability of the Mission itself to adequately manage it. End summary. ¶2. (C) The threat of terrorism is on the rise throughout the Horn of Africa, with Somalia serving as its epicenter. Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, now exercises control over large segments of Southern Somalia, and has sheltered and worked alongside al-Qaida (AQ) operatives in East Africa. Uganda's military and diplomatic efforts to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) elements have encountered a number of setbacks. Al-Shabaab now exercises control over large segments of the southern Somalia. Al-Shabaab also shelters and works alongside al-Qaeda operatives in East Africa. Uganda is at risk of AQ and al-Shabaab attacks because of its strong support for AMISOM. We note that the U.S. Mission was a selected target for the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings, but that the attack was foiled by the Ugandan authorities. Uganda is also a transit point for regional AQ operatives traveling from Sudan to Somalia and other regional states. ¶3. (C) There is a need to improve on GOU COIN programs related to law enforcement, maritime security, legislative reforms and intelligence sharing. Traditionally, successful GOU military COIN programs focused on the internal conflicts with the Lord's Resistance Army, the Allied Democratic Forces and pastoralist conflicts in Karamoja. However, COIN programs are a multi-faceted doctrine based on coordination of military and civilian security organizations. Mission's observations are that although the military component of COIN is robust, civilian COIN efforts are weak, especially those related to law enforcement, maritime security, legislation to support the civilian branches and intelligence sharing between security agencies. Section 1206 could assist with providing non-lethal training and equipment to the civilian agencies that counter AQ and Al-Shabaab threats to Uganda. ¶4. (C) Mission Kampala looks forward to helping to develop and implement a 1206 project in Uganda that is in line with local conditions and realities and for which the Mission has the adequate management resources and capacity. BROWNING BROWNING