US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI814

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E, AF/RSA, AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, MARR, MASS, MCAP, DJ 
SUBJECT: THORNY ISSUES RAISED AT 27TH ANNIVERSARY 
CELEBRATION OF DJIBOUTI'S ARMED FORCES 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (U) Summary:  June 6 marked the 27th anniversary of the 
creation of Djibouti's armed forces.  On the occasion, Chief 
of Defense, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein, addressed the 
troops with remarks that raised lingering thorny issues of 
adequate housing, health services, compensation and promotion 
that continue to affect troop morale and job satisfaction in 
a negative way.  The most controversial proposal, and the one 
least likely to be fully implemented, is to deduct from 
salaries of military personnel a set sum of nearly 
one-quarter of salary monthly to fund future housing. End 
summary. 
 
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Post-Flooding: More Promises 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (U)  In his speech at the 27th anniversary celebration 
June 6 of the founding of Djibouti's armed forces, Chief of 
Defense, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein, reiterated his 
condolences to the members of the services who lost family 
members, personal effects and homes during the floods which 
had taken place in Djibouti two months prior, almost to the 
day.  He said his command takes the cases of these 
individuals seriously and that assistance would be 
distributed to them "without delay."  He also told the troops 
that "a study had been undertaken which would lay out 
possibilities for their re-housing," which has not yet been 
resolved. 
 
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Imposed Contribution Plan 
------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Perhaps most controversial among the General's remarks 
during the anniversary celebration was his outline to the 
troops, for the first time, of a proposed plan to retain from 
their salaries on a monthly basis, the sum of 10,000 
Djiboutian Francs (USD 56, out of an average salary of 40,000 
Djiboutian Francs (USD 226) to fund, over several years, a 
financing plan for military housing.  No other details were 
provided, although General Fathi remarked that implementation 
of the reserve funding was "on hold" until a personalized 
contract establishing duration and terms could be 
established. (Comment:  Commander of French Armed Forces in 
Djibouti, General Gerard Pons, told Ambassador and USLO 
during a meeting on June 9, that this proposed plan was a 
shock and had stirred much grumbling from the military rank 
and file as soon as announced. End comment) 
 
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Praising "Transformation" 
------------------------- 
 
4. (U) Among the list of accomplishments of the military over 
the past year, cited by General Fathi, were the following: 
 
-- creation of new regiments, including the Rapid Action 
Regiment, with added missions, including a new focus on the 
anti-terrorist struggle; 
 
-- increase in the capacity of the Artillery Regiment to 
optimize its fire power and mobility; 
 
-- enlargement of the capacity of the naval unit operating 
along Djibouti's maritime coasts, including equipping it with 
a high-speed medical motorboat to decrease evacuation time to 
sources of treatment; 
 
-- progress of the Demining Company and the declaration in 
January 2004 of Djibouti as mine-free; 
 
-- improvement of health structures of the Djibouti Armed 
Forces generally, for the benefit of Djibouti's citizens; 
 
-- the planned construction of a military hospital which 
would concentrate all military health structures into a 
single enclosure. According to General Fathi, this project is 
"under discussion" and "in design phase;" 
 
-- achievement in the future of a mixed modern garrison for 
officers that will also provide leisure space for the mental 
and physical well-being of soldiers; 
 
-- in Human Resources, continuation of training programs that 
currently have placed 110 trainees in 20 countries. There are 
also plans for additional training of pilots of aircraft and 
helicopters. 
 
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Acknowledging Problems in Benefits and Promotions 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
5. (U) General Fathi spoke of a commission that "is being set 
up" to look at issues such as loans and death benefits for 
soldiers. He also told the assembled soldiers that "I am not 
unaware of the unease of non-commissioned officers who await 
formal regularization of the grading of officers.  A 
commission will be designed, which will define methods of 
promotion.  The thorny problem of promotion freezes will 
know, I hope, a happy outcome at the end of the year." 
General Fathi went on to say that normal promotions had been 
delayed but that a list of promotions would be released 
"before the end of the year or by the beginning of next year." 
 
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Comment 
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6. (C) During a meeting with Ambassador in mid-April, General 
Fathi expressed his unhappiness with the pace of U.S. 
provision of defense equipment promised and in the pipeline 
for Djibouti under Foreign Military Financing (FMF). He 
sought the Ambassador's help in quickening the pace of 
provisioning, so that the process of acquiring equipment is 
shortened.  In the General's words, "security cannot wait" on 
the slow process. He also asked for additional equipment, 
including a radar for joint use by the U.S. and Djiboutian 
militaries, and for an additional USD 100,000 annually to 
fund maintenance of Djibouti's Demining Company.  Ambassador 
took advantage of the opportunity of the April 25 Chiefs of 
Mission Conference hosted by the Combined Joint Task 
Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), to put Colonel Osman Nur 
Soubagleh, Commander of the Djiboutian Army Corps of 
Engineers, in contact with visiting DAS Theresa Whelan for 
further discussion. 
 
7. (C) Djibouti's military has other internal problems that 
require priority focus. The lingering issues of promotions, 
benefits, and post-flood assistance for soldiers and their 
families are unresolved.  Indeed, General Fathi has 
approached USLO for assistance in re-supplying the military 
and its troops with some of their flood losses.  It will be a 
challenge to meet these requirements in a timely manner, even 
if subsequently approved.  Moreover, the Armed Forces of 
Djibouti (FAD) are also experiencing difficulty in meeting 
payroll requirements.  Recent cuts in a food supplement for 
FAD service members proved so unpopular as to cause strikes 
at several military bases.  This new proposal to fund what 
many in the FAD deem to be a government obligation, is not 
likely to fare better.  End comment. 
RAGSDALE