US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI945

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
State for AF, AF/E, AF/PD; 
London/Paris for Africa Watcher 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, PGOV, SCUL, DJ 
SUBJECT:  Ambassador dedicates English Language Lab 
at Djiboutian Military Headquarters 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  On September 21, the Ambassador 
dedicated an English language laboratory and library at 
Camp Cheik Osman, the Djiboutian Military headquarters. 
The project was funded by the Embassy's Foreign Military 
Financing (FMF) fund. The project is intended to aid 
cooperation between the U.S. and Djiboutian militaries, and 
between Djibouti and other militaries in the Horn of Africa, 
by teaching basic, professionally-specific English to 
officers and enlisted soldiers. END SUMMARY 
 
 
2. On September 21, the Ambassador, Brigade General 
Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim and the Embassy's U.S. Liaison 
Officer (USLO) dedicated an American Embassy-funded 
English language laboratory and library at Camp Cheik 
Osman, the Djiboutian Military headquarters. The 
computerized language laboratory was equipped with USD 
30,000 of FMF funds.  It is intended to provide basic 
English language skills to officers and enlisted Djiboutian 
military personnel and will be operated over the next 90 
days by a temporary duty language instructor from the U.S. 
military who specializes in English as a Second Language 
(ESL). The instructor will train Djiboutian English 
instructors in ESL techniques. USLO is currently searching 
for another American to fill the slot after 90 days. The 
laboratory has 30 computers, internet connectivity and is 
expected to service about 250 soldiers per quarter. 
 
3. In her dedication speech, the Ambassador highlighted the 
importance of English to Djibouti, not only for cooperation 
with Americans, but also as the common language of the 
Horn of Africa. It is vital to regional stability and 
development, she said, that Djibouti is able to cooperate, 
communicate and share expertise with its neighbors. 
 
4. General Zakaria, in his turn, said that the objective of the 
laboratory and library is the learning and perfection of 
English for all categories of military personnel. Zakaria 
added that the laboratory enhances the level of cooperation 
between the United States and Djibouti, and especially 
between the two armies.