TOGO: ACOTA TEAM VISITS POST

UNCLAS LOME 000117

PARIS FOR BOB KANEDA
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TO
SUBJECT: TOGO: ACOTA TEAM VISITS POST


1. SUMMARY: From March 10-14, 2009, an evaluation team from the
Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA)
program visited Lome to asses Togo's qualifications and readiness as
a Peace Support Operations (PSO) Troop Contributing Country (TCC) to
become a partner in the ACOTA peacekeeper training program. The team
consisted of ACOTA Coordinator Chip Beck and Regional Training
Operations Manager Lars Hudnall. They met with Togolese Army Chief
of Staff, General Zakari Nandja and his military and division
chiefs, as well as Foreign Minister Koffi Esaw. The team concluded
that Togo qualified as a candidate country for the ACOTA Program and
will recommend Togo's acceptance as ACOTA's 23rd partner country.
END SUMMARY.


2. OBJECTIVES: The visit had two purposes. The first was to explain
to Togolese authorities what the ACOTA program can offer Togo in
training and equipment for their peacekeeper training facilities and
for the Togolese units deploying to Chad and the Central African
Republic (MINUCAT II) and UN Operations in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). A
second objective was to evaluate the level and status of Togo's
current training programs, plans, capabilities, resources and future
requirements with regard to PSO's.


3. ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF MEETINGS: On March 11, the ACOTA team and
Embassy Military Affairs Officer met with Togolese Army Chief of
staff, General Nandja; Deputy Chief of Staff; and Division heads
(Army, Navy, Gendarmes) for an exchange of information. The ACOTA
team explained the purpose and scope of the program. The Togolese
covered their PSO plans and intentions, which included the
deployment of an infantry company to MINURCAT II on March 15,
followed by a replacement company in 6 months. (Note: These troops
have been deployed since this visit.) These meetings confirmed
Togo's desire to join the ACOTA training program, and verified that
Togo is supporting international PSO's.


4. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: The ACOTA team and Embassy Officer
also met with Foreign Minister Kofi Essaw, who provided his own
vision and assurances of Togo's active engagement in PSO's and
African conflict transformation.


5. TOGO'S NEW PEACEKEEPING TRAING CENTER: With the support of the
French, Togo has recently built a modest but attractive center for
PSO training on the outskirts of Lome. It can easily accommodate
training for 200 peacekeepers but has sufficient terrain to
accommodate 600-800 trainees once additional facilities are added.
The training center is equipped with several excellent training
components that ACOTA often builds from scratch. These included a
mock-combat operational command post; checkpoints; mine-clearing
terrain; urban operational facilities; and a convoy/field operations
area. The Commanding Officer, LTC Katanga Nakoura, is a 2007
graduate of the ACOTA ECOWAS logistical Training Course at the Kofi
Annan Center and is enthusiastic about the full slate of ACOTA
training.


6. CONCLUSION: The ACOTA team evaluated Togo as meeting the basic
criteria for ACOTA Program participation and partnership and will
recommend that Togo be accepted as a partner. Since Togo already has
300 peacekeepers in UNOCI, and the first contingent of MINURCAT II
(200 peacekeepers) are already in Chad, it is clear that Togo is
committed and already active in conflict transformation in Africa.
If Togo is approved as an ACOTA partner, the ACOTA Program Office
will propose that it move forward to be in position to work with the
French and be ready to provide tailored PSO training to the second
contingent of peacekeepers that Togo is planning to send to MINURCAT
II later in 2009. ACOTA will work with the Togolese at a proposed
Training Strategy Conference (TSC) in May to develop additional
training calendars for subsequent MINURCAT II contingents as well as
those for UNOCI. Development of the training center and the
instructor cadre will also be a priority for the ACOTA program.


7. COMMENT: The Embassy concurs with the ACOTA team's assessment and
strongly recommends that the ACOTA Program Development Oversight
Committee accept Togo as ACOTA's 23rd partner country. Togo's
partnership with ACOTA supports the Embassy's MSP goals of promoting
democracy and good governance by helping to professionalize the
Togolese military. We feel it is vital to encourage the Togolese
military to participate in regional peacekeeping operations. The
Embassy looks forward to coordinating ACOTA's proposed May TSC and
all subsequent engagements with the Togolese military. END COMMENT.

HAWKINS