USAU: PROGRESS ON COMMAND, CONTROL,

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000292


STATE FOR AF/RSA AND PM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP MASS AU
SUBJECT: USAU: PROGRESS ON COMMAND, CONTROL,
COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION SYSTEMS (C3IS)

REF: A. 09 ADDIS ABABA 754

B. 09 ADDIS ABABA 853

C. 09 ADDIS ABABA 1242

D. 09 ADDIS ABABA 2619


This message is from USAU Ambassador Michael A. Battle.



1. Summary: There have been several positive developments in
the C3IS project since the last update (ref D). Key among
the developments was the USAU-sponsored dedication ceremony
to commemorate the opening of the African Union (AU)'s Peace
Support Operations Division's Operations Center. This
facility, formally referred to as the Peace Support
Operations Center (PSOC),will be used to monitor and support
AU missions assigned to the African Standby Force (ASF). In
addition, the USAU and AU sponsored a C3IS workshop attended
by AU, USAU, CJTF-HOA, European Union (EU),and AFRICOM to
review the status of the program and determine the necessary
requirements and actions to facilitate the next phase of the
C3IS project. This phase will provide equipment and
connectivity to forward-deployed AU forces under the AU's
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to three of the five Regional
Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa. End Summary.


2. Current Situation: Since the last update, the following
developments have taken place:

-- A second draft of the Memorandum of Agreement has been
provided to the State Department for review and update. Once
completed this agreement will be forwarded via USAU to the AU
for review and signature.

-- The PSOD Operations Center was dedicated on January 26
with participation from AU, EU, AFRICOM, and USAU. A tour and
demonstration of applications was provided to 40 attendees,
including VIPs from OSD, AFRICOM, USAU, and the AU.

-- There were expenditures for the purchase of hardware,
network connectivity, network protection and infrastructure
requirements to include: $36K from the British Embassy to
purchase equipment and office furnishings for the operations
center; and $250K from the State Department for the purchase
of IT equipment supporting the AU's Strategic Planning and
Management Unit (SPMU). This included systems hardware,
firewall capability, and secure electronic folders.

-- The C3IS semi-annual workshop covered a variety of topics,
including program background that provided relevance for the
next phase of the project; a prioritized list of REC surveys
locations that must be accomplished, with priority given to
SADC, ECCAS, and ECOWAS; communication requirements and
initiatives in support of the AMISOM mission; and expansion
of both the PSOC and the networks that support the RECs under
AU operations.


3. Workshop Outcomes: The following decisions were made as a
result of the workshop:

-- Continue the installation and relocation of the equipment
and networks to include VOIP phones, video phones, VSAT/VTC
equipment, HF Radios, and communication laptops to AMISOM.

-- Review of standard operating procedures for the
development of a comprehensive training curriculum and proper
staffing of the PSOC, complemented by the REC surveys in
support of the ASF.

-- Initiate discussions for the African Partner Country
Network concept and for secure communications in support of
the AU.

-- The next C3IS workshop will be held in the summer of 2010.


YATES