US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI1117

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 001117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF, AF/E, AF/RA, AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, PTER, DJ 
SUBJECT: CJTF-HOA AND MULTINATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE 
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: SECSTATE 201886 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (C) Ambassador conveyed to Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on November 6 reftel guidance on 
CJTF-HOA's interest in multi-nationalization of its 
operations.  Youssouf did not comment on substance of the 
U.S. proposal, but said he believed this subject was also 
raised in the base lease agreement now under negotiation. 
(Comment:  Youssouf, who received a copy of the draft lease 
agreement from Olhaye, is likely referring to paragraph 3 
which states that the U.S. shall seek Djibouti's approval to 
conduct new activities no less than 45 days in advance of 
start of the activity. End comment)  Ambassador handed 
Youssouf a copy (in English) of reftel talking points as a 
non-paper, and promised an informal French translation within 
two days for his use with other officials. Youssouf expressed 
his appreciation and said he would wait for the French 
version, which we subsequently sent to him. 
 
2. (C) On November 8, Ambassador and USLO conveyed the same 
non-paper, in both French and English, to General Fathi Ahmed 
Hussein, Chief of Djibouti's Armed Forces and his Deputy, 
General Zakariya Cheick Ibrahim during a meeting at 
Djiboutian military headquarters.  Fathi and Zakariya had 
several questions on how the added presence would work, who 
would be the donor nations, and what specifically the donor 
individuals would do.  Ambassador explained that CJTF-HOA 
anticipated bilateral agreements between the donor 
governments and Djibouti to cover administrative aspects of 
the multi-national presence.  As for activities, these would 
include maritime security  and counter-terrorism training, 
engineering, and civil-military operations.  When asked who 
would have responsibility for the donor individuals under the 
plan, Ambassador said she understood this issue would be 
worked out between Djibouti and the respective governments 
involved. General Fathi commented that if CJTF-HOA is 
inviting people into Camp Lemonier, then CJTF-HOA must have 
responsibility for these individuals. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador left with General Fathi non-papers, in 
French and English and derived from reftel, for the General's 
and subsequently the Defense Minister's review.  She told 
General Fathi that she would await Djibouti's official reply. 
RAGSDALE