Cablegate: Usau: African Union Undeterred by Attack On Amisom

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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #2323 2720514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290514Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6317
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7952

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002323

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR MGAVIN
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA AFRICAN AFFAIRS (VHUDDLESTON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS SO AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AFRICAN UNION UNDETERRED BY ATTACK ON AMISOM
TROOPS IN MOGADISHU

1. (U) The African Union Commission's Acting Head of the
Peace and Security Department, El-Ghassim Wane, told
international partners on September 25 that the African Union
is keen to get the remaining three AMISOM battalions into
Somalia by the end of the year, although he acknowledged that
could be a tall order. Other African states must "shoulder
the burden." Wane told ambassadors and other diplomats from
donor countries that the troops need both lethal and
non-lethal equipment to help them carry out their mission.
"If you don't have sufficient lethal weapons, there isn't
much you can do," Wane conceded, referring to those armed
groups fighting the Somali Transitional Federal government.

2. (SBU) Wane noted that the AU Commission continues to adapt
AMISOM's mandate to the changing conditions in Mogadishu, but
that any strengthening of the mandate would need to be
accompanied by an upgrade in equipment used by the troops.
(Comment: While the AU has not yet changed AMISOM's mandate,
the AMISOM Force Commander and AU Commission leadership have
periodically focused on different components and adjusted
their interpretation of the existing mandate to adapt to
changing battlefield conditions. End Comment.) Wane said he
expects that in the next two weeks, the AU Commission will
take a decision on whether to strengthen AMISOM's mandate.
He said there would be risks associated with doing so. The
AU also continues to advocate strengthening of the political
process, imposing sanctions on "spoilers," and establishing a
naval blockade and other measures to stem the flow of arms
and other support to Al-Shabaab.

3. (U) With respect to the September 17 attack on AMISOM
forces in Mogadishu, Wane gave a tally of the dead and
injured, and stated that it was clear to the AU that foreign
fighters were involved in the operation. These foreign
fighters see Somalia as "the battleground to carry out
jihad." In response to a question by USAU Ambassador Battle
about the impact the attack had on Burundi's commitment to
AMISOM, Wane replied that reports of calls for withdrawal of
the Burundian contingent were linked to Burundi's forthcoming
election. The Burundian government remains very committed to
the mission, Wane asserted. AMISOM troop contributing
countries and the AU agree that they need to make sure such
attacks do not occur again, he said.

4. (SBU) In response to a question about whether the AU
agreed that Somalia was becoming another Afghanistan (in
reference to a recent statement by EU Commissioner for
Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel de Gucht), Wane said
the statement was not reassuring and acknowledged that
foreign fighters were coming to Somalia because it was a
territory conducive to carrying out their activities. He
called for more intelligence sharing, more troop contributing
countries from African, and more partner financial,
equipment, and training support. (Comment: The AU has
requested U.S. logistical support for the fourth Burundian
battalion that they have pledged in support of AMISOM, but
this request remains unfulfilled. With AU Chairperson Jean
Ping due to meet with A/S Johnnie Carson in the coming days,
this is an opportunity for the USG to make clear our intent
to train, equip, lift, and sustain these AMISOM troops. End
Comment.)
MEECE

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