US embassy cable - 02ABUJA2763

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002763 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2012 
TAGS: MOPS, MASS, NI, IV 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ROE FOR NIGERIAN FORCES IN COTE D'IVOIRE 
 
 Classified by DCM Andrews for reasons 1.5 (a), (b) and (d) 
 
 
1.  (C/NF) DCM and POL/MILOFF met with the Minister of State 
for Defense (Army) Malam Lawal Batagarawa morning of 
September 27 to discuss ROE for NAF units in Cote d'Ivoire. 
Batagarawa seemed taken by surprise when told of the 
deployment of three NAF Alpha Jets, two MI-35 attack 
helicopters, weaponry and support personnel to Abidjan.  DCM 
told Batagarawa that NSA Aliyu Mohammed had informed him of 
the deployment on 25 September.  Batagarawa then said that 
the MI-35s would assist with evacuation efforts and that the 
Alpha Jets were there to provide air cover for them.  He then 
said that the ROE directed NAF forces to act only in 
self-defense and to take no other action without specific 
authorization from the NCA in Abuja. 
 
 
2.  (C/NF) DATT sources at the MOD, Defense Headquarters, 
Nigerian DIA and NAF indicate that the orders to deploy the 
NAF to Cote d'Ivoire did not pass through Defense 
Headquarters, but went straight to the NAF from the 
Presidency.  These sources were unaware of the issuance of 
any specific ROE.  Their orders directed the NAF to deploy to 
Cote d'Ivoire with a mission to provide close air support to 
the GOCI forces in their operations against the rebels. 
These sources indicated NAF assets in Cote d'Ivoire were 
directed to take their orders from the GOCI and that the GOCI 
was responsible for coordinating operations with any other 
country. 
 
 
3.  (C/NF) NOTE: DATT believes it is possible that verbal 
instructions may have been given to the NAF commander to 
check with the GON before taking any action, and that the 
various military headquarters were left out of the loop.  END 
NOTE. 
JETER