SEYCHELLES: OCEAN LOOK TOPS AGENDA DURING

S E C R E T PORT LOUIS 000292


NOFORN

DEPT FOR AF/E
AF/RSA FOR BITTRICK AND BANDO
ANTAN FOR DAO
NAIROBI FOR KUSLO

E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 09/22/2019
TAGS: MARR MOPS SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES: OCEAN LOOK TOPS AGENDA DURING
PRESIDENTIAL MEETING

REF: A. A) BLASER-DEPT SEYCHELLES-PIRACY EMAILS MAY 5-6

B. B) PORT LOUIS 132

C. C) PORT LOUIS 127

D. D) PORT LOUIS 381

E. E) PORT LOUIS 316

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Virginia Blaser for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)



1. (SBU) This is an action message for Department and Africa
Command. Please see paras 3d(i),3h, and 3j below.


2. (S/NOFORN) SUMMARY: On September 18, Charge d'Affaires
(CDA) met with President James Michel to deliver ref A points
on the issue of piracy and the role of the Ocean Look
operation in the Seychelles. Permanent Secretary Jean Paul
Adam and POLOFF attended as notetakers. The President cleared
on all ref A points, adding that the Government of Seychelles
is "committed to work in partnership with the U.S. for peace
and security in the region and around the world." The GOS,
he said, is prepared to contribute its share to the combating
of regional and world security problems, including support to
counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-drug, force
protection, and humanitarian assistance projects. Should the
U.S. have additional requirements, the President would be
amenable to providing support to other or expanded missions,
requesting only that any such proposals be delivered to him
personally before any other USG-GOS approach is made. The
Seychellois people support the UAV presence in the country,
Adam added, and the President recommend GOS and USG consider
jointly whether some kind of appropriate ceremony be
considered for the first flights of the UAVs from Mahe. The
President also indicated a willingness to review a US draft
MOU for piracy transfer and trials. END SUMMARY.

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OCEAN LOOK OPS
--------------


3. (S/NOFORN entire paragraph 3) On September 18, Charge
d'Affaires met with President James Michel to provide ref A
briefing points and generally discuss the Ocean Look project.
Points provided are repeated below, for the record, including
the President's reaction point-by-point:

a) (S) CDA noted that with the UAVs due to arrive
on/about 25 September, it was time to have a direct,
classified review with the President on the UAV operation and
operational plan. While we had discussed in various meeting
the generalities of the project, USG wanted to ensure
transparency and good dialogue with the President on this
important mission. The President agreed, and noted how
pleased he was with the mission to date, and that he looked
forward to the discussion with CDA. He agreed that the
briefing was "Secret" and concurred with the need to maintain
discussions in very close-hold circles (full disclosure at
present, he said, with just himself and Jean Paul Adam).

b) (S) CDA informed the President that this was the
first deployment of these US Navy UAVs; and that the UAV
program would include a contingent of personnel for launch
and recovery, force protection and maintenance personnel.
The total number of USG personnel in Seychelles for this
mission would be approximately 77. The President said this
was reasonable and understood the need for this size and type
of contingent.

c) (S) As authorized by the recent Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),around-the-clock military uniformed and
armed security guards will be in place within the designated
access controlled airfield hangar/operations facilities.
Security is anticipated to consist of 8 man teams armed with
M-16 rifles and/or 9 mm pistols. Storage of weapons and
small arms ammunition will be within the access controlled
hangar/operations facilities and will be continuously
guarded. No weapons or ammunition would leave the controlled
area. The CDA added that a Force Protection Plan had been
provided the previous day to the MFA, and would be provided
later on the 18th to the Chief of the Defense Forces. USG
requested GOS concurrence of this plan prior to weapons or
ammunition arriving in Seychelles. The President thanked CDA,
noting that foreign import and use of weapons could be
politically sensitive in Seychelles (given its political
history),and that he recognized that such usage fell under
our SOFA agreement. Nonetheless, he asked CDA to ensure that
the plan was approved by Brigadier General Payet, the Chief
of the Defense Forces, prior to bringing the weapons and
ammunition into the country. Jean Paul Adam noted that the
agreement that weapons and ammunition would not leave the
secure area was in line with all prior discussions with USG
reps on the subject.

d) (S) USG desires to be completely transparent with the
President with regard to activities of the UAVs while they
are flown from the Seychellois territory. CDA noted that
while direct discussion between our governments had included
references to a range of activities these UAVs could conduct,
the USG wanted to clarify our intent to conduct an array of
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities
with these airframes, and to provide specifics to the GOS
regarding such activities. Such activities, would include
counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-drug, force
protection for African union missions, and humanitarian
assistance. More specifically:

i) (S) Counter-terrorism missions will involve
intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance flights over
the Horn of Africa to support ongoing counter-terrorism
efforts. The UAVs originating from Seychelles and flying
counter-terrorism mission will not conduct direct attacks.
The CDA stressed the sensitive nature of this
counter-terrorism mission and that this not be released
outside of the highest GOS channels. The President
wholeheartedly concurred with that request, noting that such
issues could be politically sensitive for him as well.
President Michel opined that piracy and terrorism can be
similar, and in the case of Somalia, that country could prove
as a "nest for terrorism" if the problem isn't attacked head
on. The two issues of piracy and terrorism in Somalia,
therefore, are linked and very important. He also asked
whether, in addition to publicly released "anti-piracy"
element of these UAVs, the USG/GOS might be able to mention
publicly that the UAVs could also serve counter-drug goals.
He noted that he is working to "clean up" drug problems in
the Seychelles, and that making note of this would be very
useful in discouraging drug operations around the islands.
Action request for addressees: Request permission to allow
for counter-drug element to be released officially either by
the GOS or the USG.

ii) (S) Although ref A briefing points provided "if
asked" comments regarding force protection of African Union
missions involving the supply of threat warning to AMISOM
commanders, the President did not ask for clarification of
the "AU Force Protection" point, so CDA did not/not raise
this ref A talking point.

iii) (S) Humanitarian assistance missions would only
be conducted following a natural disaster where the impacted
nation has requested USG assistance. The President said he
had not considered natural disaster assistance element of
this UAV asset, and considered it a very good use of the UAV
program.

e) (S) Each UAV sortie is able to conduct more than one
of these activities (counter-piracy, counter-drug,
counter-terrorism) during a single mission. The President
said he understood completely and had no concerns about the
multi-use element of these UAVs.

f) (S) The first two to three weeks of activities will
focus on equipment calibration and ground and flight testing
in and around the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone. The
President said that this "made sense" and wondered whether
the USG and GOS could consider an "appropriate outreach"
event around the first few take offs of the UAVs. Perhaps an
invitation to the press to see a UAV up close, to take photos
and/or have some sort of "inauguration flight." He thought
this would go over very well locally.

g) (S) These missions will be flown over the Seychelles,
the Western Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa. The
president concurred.

h) (S) If a threat is detected by the UAV which may
affect the Seychelles, the USG intends to provide the
relevant counter-piracy and counter-terrorism information
from the UAV to the GOS. The President was pleased that this
kind of cooperation would be forthcoming, and presumed that
such information would not be usable in a court of law, but
rather as a heads up to his own (or coalition partners) to
intersect suspicious activity and thus develop their own
legal case against criminal activity. Jean Paul Adam
commented that we will need to create a mechanism for quick
and appropriate passage of information from the UAVs to the
GOS. (Action request: Post requests Africa Command provide
recommend SOP for passage of such information for Embassy
review and discussion.)

i) (S) The apportionment of the UAV sorties toward one
activity vice another is unpredictable and will be driven by
threats and intelligence collection requirements. The
President said he understood and had no concerns on this
point.

j) (S) There is no plan, at this time, to arm these
UAVs. Should the desire to do so ever arise, the USG would
seek discrete, specific discussions with the appropriate GOS
officials to gain approval. The President concurred, and
asked that such approval be sought by in-person contact
directly with the President and not anyone else in the GOS.
He would be willing to consider a range of future and
expantionary requests, but would need to consider the
internal Seychellois political environment and implications
at the time any request would be made. CDA added that the
GOS should be aware that the UAVs, although unarmed, do have
equipment that could appear to the public as being weapons,
and asked for the President's opinion regarding the best way
to ensure assumptions weren't made by those who see the UAVs
taking off from the public airport. The President noted that
his earlier idea of having some kind of press/outreach event,
in which this could be explained, would be very helpful.
(Action Request: Post requests review of the possibility for
such an event, and concurs that it would be positive gesture.
If possible, Post would recommend a "UAV air show," allowing
reporters to view the UAVs in their non-sensitive
configuration (i.e. prior to installing any sensitive gear),
if possible)



4. (S/NOFORN) At the end of the brief, President Michel told
CDA that "everything is clear" and that he looks forward to
continued cooperation and development on this program. He
understand that in the future, there may be other situations
and needs from the USG and that he stands ready to have
discussions on such points or requirements. The United States
should consider Seychelles a partner for the long term, he
noted, and that Seychelles wishes to contribute its fair
share to the combat against piracy, terrorism, drugs, and
other regional and world security concerns. "We know we are
small, but we believe our location can be strategically
important" for the United States, said President Michel. He
noted that he had "no further questions" and that he is
confident everything is moving well and in the right
direction. Let's just proceed, he finished.



5. (C) According to Jean Paul Adam, the Seychellois people
are happy to have the UAVs present in their country. They
see it as a serious step in the fight against piracy it and
sends a message of deterrence to pirates, terrorists, drug
smugglers, and illegal fishing boats in the region. Everyone
is taking the presence of the UAVs "the right way" and the
GOS wants to be open and transparent with the general public
in the non-sensitive areas of the program.

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PIRACY MOU?
--------------


6. (C/NOFORN) CDA raised the topic of piracy trials and
asked how negotiations were going with the EU and the UK.
"Not always smoothly" Adam said, adding that he had urged his
Attorney General to look toward the American model of signing
a SOFA first, then moving toward collaborative talks, vice
the EU/UK method if putting a set document on piracy trials
forward without "the needed infrastructure." The GOS welcomes
receipt of a USG MOU for piracy trial and detention,
recognizing that the USG is willing to have collaborative
discussions and has demonstrated a willingness to make
changes to the MOU in the reflection of the Seychelles
context. This type of collaborative process goes a long way
to renew and strengthen the cooperation between the
Seychelles and U.S. governments, he added. (NOTE: Post
provided the L forwarded MOU draft to GOS on 22 September,
and will continue to follow-up for reactions/comments to
forward to appropriate DOS stakeholders. END NOTE.)

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MEDIA REFORM
--------------


7. (C) The President raised some of his recent efforts in
improving openness and a democracy in his country. He has
used, he said, the economic reforms as a platform for
long-needed changes in his country. One reform in particular
has to do with the media. The President commissioned a study
written by a member of the opposition and one from a former
Reporters Without Borders" officer, to research media in
Seychelles and make recommendations on media reform. It is
time to open up our media, said the President. This study
initially received criticism from the opposition, said Adam,
but now that it is finished and posted on our government
website, many opposition members see it as a positive move
forward.

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FOR WASHINGTON
--------------


8. (S) CDA noted that the President was not going to attend
the UNGA, and asked whether he might have a final message for
Washington on all the above points. "Yes," he said. "Please
tell Washington that the Seychelles is committed to work in
partnership with the U.S. for peace and security in the
region and in the world."

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COMMENT
--------------


9. (S/NOFORN) The meeting with the President was very
cordial and warm. He provided all the needed concurrence and
support to the Ocean Look operation. The discussions
solidified his personal desire for the Seychelles to be a
partner in the program and he is fully committed to working
with us on the way ahead. USG should be cognizant, however,
that President Michel faces some internal controversy; not on
Ocean Look per se, but politically even within his own party.
According to a variety of discussions between CDA and other
COMs, the President's initiative to minimize corruption --
particularly counter-drug efforts -- is not well received by
those in power who benefit from such illegal activities.
Ocean Look provides the President with some public
credibility as a president who can deliver for the protection
of his people and the general economy. His decision not to
attend UNGA and the lunch with President Obama comes from his
desire to instead to spend the time "in the constituencies
conducting grass-roots outreach directly to the Seychellois
people" (quote from Jean Paul Adam). It could be seen that
this outreach is an effort to shore up popular support.


BLASER