US embassy cable - 05TRIPOLI290

S E C R E T TRIPOLI 000290 
 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/1/2015 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, EG, AG, MO, TS, WI, CA, LY 
SUBJECT: THE NORTH AFRICAN BRIGADE OF THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND 
SECURITY FORCE 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Greg Berry, Principal Officer, USLO Tripoli, 
State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1. (S) According to press reports, army chiefs of staff from 
Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and "the Western Sahara 
Republic," announced November 17 the creation of a joint military 
force.  We obtained additional information about the agreement 
in November 29 meetings with the Egyptian Embassy and the 
visiting Canadian regional defense attache. 
 
2. (S) The Canadian was well informed.  He told us an agreement 
was indeed signed in Tripoli to create a North African Brigade 
for the African Union Peace and Security Council.  Under the 
agreement, the Brigade would consist of two Algerian battalions, 
an Egyptian battalion, a Libyan battalion, an Egyptian 
headquarters element, and a Western Sahara reconnaissance unit 
(which in actuality would be run by the Algerians).  Logistical 
bases may be located in Egypt and Algeria.  The Brigade is 
supposed to be stood up by 2010, but both the Canadian, and the 
Egyptians were skeptical it will ever see the light of day.  The 
Egyptians commented that they were in no hurry to move things 
forward, but confirmed that the HQ would be Egyptian. 
 
Goldrich 
BERRY 
 
 
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