VZCZCXRO3155
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #2517/01 2911652
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181652Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6640
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0207
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0911
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0757
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0392
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0427
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0773

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 002517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/RSA, AF/EPS, S/P AND AF/W 
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA 
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA 
LONDON FOR POL - AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 
TAGS: MARR EAID PINS PREL PU UK
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: SECURITY SECTOR REFORM WILL TOP 
AGENDA AT ROUND TABLE 
 
 
Classified By: Charge Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.  (C) Guinea-Bissau is hoping to raise over USD 350 million 
at the donor,s round table in November for a sweeping 
security sector reform and poverty reduction program. 
Indications from potential donors are that pledges will fall 
far short.  The United Kingdom has provided technical experts 
to assist a committee of Government and civil society 
representatives in drafting a security sector reform plan. 
The British expert found a good conceptual plan that lacks 
details, a fractured political system and some tense 
relationships among key players.  The United States should 
continue to support capacity building in the National 
Assembly.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BRITS RE-START PROCESS 
---------------------- 
¶2.  (C) The United Kingdom has provided security sector 
reform technical experts to the GOGB to help it define 
concepts and organize itself for the development of a 
complete plan to be presented at the Geneva donor,s 
conference, November 7-8.  The technical committee drafting 
the paper and the ministerial oversight committee are 
comprised of only Bissau-Guineans.  A committee of diplomats 
and international organizations in Bissau provides input. 
The lead expert from the UK,s Security Sector Development 
Advisory Team, Chris Goostrey, returned for a third visit to 
Bissau, Sept. 25-Oct. 6, to help the committee get back on 
track after approximately six months of no work due to a 
salary dispute. 
 
¶3.  (C) When he arrived, Goostrey found a document fully 
geared toward the armed forces with little thought given to 
the details of implementation.  He worked to include 
stakeholders from the Justice and Interior Ministries for a 
more inclusive approach to security sector reform.  He noted 
significant opposition from Defense Minister Helder Proenca 
to the re-orientation and also noted general mistrust between 
Prime Minister Aristides Gomes and perhaps the most important 
individual in the process, Armed Forces Chief Major General 
Batista Tagme Na Waie. 
 
¶4.  (C) Goostrey notes that armed forces are still organized 
like a guerrilla organization ill-suited to security 
realities, but General Tagme recognizes that reform is 
needed.  Some changes have already happened, including a new 
policy of conscription and the replacement of two staff 
chiefs.  The new Army Chief of Staff is Col. Mamadu Ture and 
the new Air Force Chief is Brigadier General Antonio Gomes. 
 
¶5.  (C) Goostrey noted that political parties and civil 
society are still disorganized and weak in contributing to 
the security sector reform agenda and in general.  The 
backwardness of political parties is reflected in the 
National Popular Assembly (ANP), which is routinely ignored 
and treated with contempt by the military and Government 
alike. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶6.  (C) Most observers believe Tagme is sincere in his desire 
for security sector reform, but in fact, he missed the chance 
to show his resolve to prospective donors at a GOGB-sponsored 
pre-donor,s conference meeting in Bissau Oct. 5.  A host of 
key Ministers were present including the Prime Minister and 
Ministers of Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Defense, but not 
Tagme or any of his staff.  A significant number of 
potential, no-presence donors, including Canada, India and 
Turkey attended the meeting as did we. 
 
¶7.  (C) Goostrey,s findings on the poor state of political 
parties and the ANP are consistent with post,s previous 
reporting.  For the parties, politics is a zero-sum power 
game with little real dialogue and almost no concept of basic 
democratic concepts such as consulting with constituents, 
developing legislative initiatives, and overseeing Government 
expenditures.  Embassy again urges that the Department 
support the National Democratic Institute,s capacity 
 
DAKAR 00002517  002 OF 002 
 
 
building program with the ANP which will end in December if 
we are not able to assure additional funding by October 31. 
END COMMENT. 
JACKSON