INVITATION TO THE 5TH EAST AFRICA RSI MEETING

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