INCREASING U.S. ENGAGEMENT WITH MALAWI DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000478 SIPDIS GABORONE PLEASE PASS TO LTC WYATT, OSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2019 TAGS: PREL KPKO MI SUBJECT: INCREASING U.S. ENGAGEMENT WITH MALAWI DEFENSE FORCES Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin K. Sullivan for reason: 1. 4(b) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A series of recent visits allowed Post to increase engagement with the Malawi Defense Forces (MDF). AFRICOM's first ever Military-to-Military (Mil2Mil) exchange program in Malawi saw U.S. Air Force security police share experiences with their MDF military police counterparts. At the same time, African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) trainers visited to assist with delivery of ACOTA-funded equipment to support deployment of a full MDF battalion to the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). During visits by the Office of Security Cooperation and Foreign Area Officer based in Gaborone, Post explored how with the GOM ways to procure the other equipment necessary for the MINURCAT deployment. END SUMMARY. Mil2Mil Exchange Breaks New Ground -------------- ¶2. (U) AFRICOM's first Mil2Mil program in Malawi kicked off in high gear with a brief opening ceremony. The Ambassador and Lt. Gen. Ntonya, Deputy Commander of the MDF, celebrated the first such exchange of knowledge, in which two Delaware Air National Guardsmen and 30 MDF Military Police engaged in discussions on base security standards for five days. MDF Maj. Gen. Sefu had invited US experts on this topic because the MDF has no organic Military Police specialty training capacity beyond 'on the job' training. The USAF officer and NCO shared their experiences from a recent deployment to Iraq with a MDF Military Police contingent that included several members who had served on previous UN deployments. Another exchange is planned for September 2009 on Sustainable Range Management, which will bring together both civilian environmental and military specialists; a program on Tactical Medical Operations is also slated for FY 2010. ACOTA delivers: equipment and trainers -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In meetings with visiting US military representatives and EmbOffs, Lt. Gen. Ntonya and MDF Director of Training Maj. Gen. Sefu praised ACOTA's training programs. Sefu went so far as to note that ACOTA accounts for almost ALL of the training the MDF conducts. The MDF was also pleased to take possession of nine containers carrying US $1.6 million in equipment for troops and training support. Simultaneously, ACOTA continues to work on the construction of two 400-man base camp training areas at the MDF's Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) facility near Salima. British counterparts are also involved at MAFCO by constructing a Peace Support Operations center - essentially the classrooms and barracks where much of the ACOTA training is supposed to takes place. Visiting US military and EmbOffs told MDF leadership that a successful UN deployment would strengthen Malawi's case for additional ACOTA training. PKO Equipment Deals Fall Through; MDF Seeks USG Advocacy -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Ntonya told OSC rep and EmbOffs that that the MDF had two vendors willing to supply the equipment need for Malawi's peacekeeping battalion to deploy to MINURCAT. At least one of which (Paramount Logistics Group of South Africa) was willing to do so on a no-money-down basis given prospects for future UN remittances. Paramount remains interested, according to Ntonya, but requires a letter of guarantee from the GOM Treasury. Ntonya thanked the DCM for a recent letter to Malawi's Secretary of the Treasury highlighting the issue. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador hosted a representational event to take advantage of the simultaneous U.S. military visits, and to facilitate communication between the MDF and the relevant civilian ministries. He used the occasion to reinforce to Chief Secretary Bright Msaka and other participants the potential gains to the MDF and Malawi of a successful PKO deployment. The Ambassador encouraged the GOM to explore the innovative financing options on the table. Post will continue advocacy to help GOM civilian authorities to better understand the benefits and requirements of fuller participation in UN peace operations. ¶6. (C) COMMENT. The simultaneous visits of several USG actors in our bilateral military relationship served to underscore our increasing ties with the MDF. Post welcomes additional Mil2Mil exchanges, which will strengthen those ties. We will continue to work closely with Malawian LILONGWE 00000478 002 OF 002 civilian and military authorities to secure the necessary financial support to build Malawi's peacekeeping capacity. BODDE