Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE38028
2009-04-16 22:19:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

INVITATION TO THE 5TH EAST AFRICA RSI MEETING

Tags:  PREL PTER ASEC PINR PGOV CN DJ ER ET MP 
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P 162219Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS PRIORITY 
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AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 
INFO PAGE 02 STATE 038028 162237Z 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY
S E C R E T STATE 038028 


FOR AMBASSADORS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PINR PGOV CN DJ ER ET MP
SO, SU, TZ, UG, YM
SUBJECT: INVITATION TO THE 5TH EAST AFRICA RSI MEETING

CLASSIFIED BY AF KARL WYCOFF, ACTING AND S/CT DAS SHARI
VILLAROSA ; E.O. 12958 REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D)

S E C R E T STATE 038028


FOR AMBASSADORS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PINR PGOV CN DJ ER ET MP
SO, SU, TZ, UG, YM
SUBJECT: INVITATION TO THE 5TH EAST AFRICA RSI MEETING

CLASSIFIED BY AF KARL WYCOFF, ACTING AND S/CT DAS SHARI
VILLAROSA ; E.O. 12958 REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) We are pleased to invite you to the next session
of the Counterterrorism Regional Strategic Initiative
for East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on May 21, 2009. Join
us in discussions to identify priority policy and
programmatic recommendations, and share counterterrorism
lessons learned on issues of concern to our fellow
Chiefs of Mission in the region.


2. (U) At the meeting in Nairobi, we will review
regional CT policy developments and update on
initiatives discussed in our previous meetings. (SBU)
An agenda will be sent out shortly. Read-ahead
materials will be posted on the S/CT classified website
by May 1, and updated thereafter:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/RSI - East Africa.


3. (S)(REL ACGU) At the 5th RSI on October 10th, 2008,
Ambassadors agreed:

-- THE TERRORIST THREAT IN EAST AFRICA REMAINS CENTERED
IN SOMALIA, WHERE IT IS GROWING AND PERNICIOUS. YET AS
THE THREAT SPREADS AND FINDS SUPPORT OUTWARDS, REGIONAL
COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL TO CONTAINING, AND ULTIMATELY
DEFEATING, THE THREAT.

-- AMISOM IS INCAPABLE OF SECURING SOMALIA ALONE; LOCAL
SECURITY FORCES MUST BE STRENGTHENED, AND A ROBUST UN
PEACEKEEPING MISSION IS REQUIRED.

-- U.S. CT COOPERATION THROUGHOUT THE REGION REMAINS
EFFECTIVE, BUT MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED ON THE STATE
OF INTRA-REGIONAL CT COOPERATION, AND WHAT THE U.S. CAN
DO TO FOSTER IT.

-- In Sudan, the prospect of an ICC arrest warrant
against Bashir threatens US/Sudanese relations, which
could include curtailing or possibly breaking off
cooperation on CT issues; Charge Fernandez noted that
Southern Sudan -- which receives no U.S. CT assistance --
may be a vulnerability.

-- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY NEED
TO BETTER DEFINE THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORT
NONVIOLENT, DEMOCRATIC MUSLIM VOICES.

-- THE USG MUST DEVELOP A NEW MODUS OPERANDI TO
RELEASE INFORMATION ABOUT A US KINETIC STRIKE IN SOMALIA
IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT IS EXECUTED, AND MUST ENGAGE MORE
WITH TELEVISION STATIONS WATCHED THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE
EAST AND SOMALIA.

-- A REGION-WIDE ASSESSMENT INTO THE DRIVERS OF YOUTH
RADICALIZATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO GUIDE OUR
RESPONSE.

-- A CONCERTED EFFORT MUST BE TAKEN TO BEAT BACK
MALIGN IRANIAN INFLUENCE; E. AFRICA RSI FIELD
COORDINATOR WILL SUPPORT. EARSI COORDINATOR WILL ALSO
SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING QATARI ENGAGEMENT IN
ERITREA, BASED ON RECENTLY-COMMISSIONED CIA REPORT.

-- THE NEXT RSI SHOULD FOCUS ON STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATION, REGIONAL FORENSICS, AND TERRORIST TRAVEL
INFORMATION SHARING.


4. (U) Participants will be limited due to space
constraints; please notify us no later than May 1 if you
wish to bring a "plus one" from your Embassy. This
meeting will include our missions with responsibility
for Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius,
Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen. We will
invite senior representatives from the Departments of
State, Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, and
Justice, as well as the intelligence community and
USAID.


5. (U) Invitees are requested to reply to this
invitation no later than May 1, 2009.


6. (U) Points of Contact: The primary point of contact
for this conference is Samuel Madsen, East Africa
Regional Strategic Initiative Officer, based in Nairobi
(madsensa@state.gov or madsensa@state.sgov.gov),
telephone ++254-20-363-6184, IVG 871-6184. Zack
Rothschild, S/CT East and Southern Africa Regional
Advisor, is the point of contact in Washington D.C. RSI
PoCs will be in touch with your staffs on logistical
details; please provide a PoC in your office.


7. (U) Travel and Conference Costs: S/CT will pay for
travel and per diem costs for Ambassadors and their
designated plus one are eligible if requested. Mr.
Ronald Gain, (202-647-1843, email: gainrl@state.gov) is
your point of contact for travel funding questions.
Embassy Nairobi may need to charge an additional
conference fee per participant; fee updates will be
available on S/CT's classified website. Embassy Nairobi
will provide meet/greet, transportation and hotel
reservations. Please provide Embassy Nairobi with your
actual itinerary when available. Logistics POC at
Embassy Nairobi is MGT/OMS Melissa Ford (254-20-363-
6007, e-mail: FordMM@state.gov).


8. (U) We look forward to seeing you in Nairobi.


CLINTON