VZCZCXRO3430
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHPA
DE RUEHDS #4178/01 3560805
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220805Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8368
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEPGBA/USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFIUU/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2681
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1676
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 004178 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA, AF/E, AF/W, AF/S, NP, AF/EPS. 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS. 
NAVEUR FOR AMB. DEAN CURRAN AND ADM ULRICH. 
USEUCOM FOR AMB. MARY YATES AND MAJ GEN GRATION. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHSA EWWT PTER AU XA
SUBJECT: EUCOM J5 AND AU DISCUSS MARITIME SECURITY IN AFRICA 
 
REF: ADDIS ABABA 3273 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The African Union (AU) takes maritime 
security seriously, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and 
Energy Bernard Zoba told EUCOM J5 Maj Gen Scott Gration and 
Polad Amb. Mary Yates December 16.  The AU is adopting a 
step-by-step approach to ensure member states receive the 
required assistance to implement International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) conventions and other maritime security 
measures.  The AU welcomes dialogue with the USG, but must 
complete a survey of member state maritime security 
provisions before it can identify specific needs 
requirements.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Also present were AU Head of Infrastructure and 
Tourism Division David Kajange, EUCOM's military LNO to the 
AU, and Poloff (notetaker). 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
MARITIME SECURITY A PRIORITY FOR AU AND MEMBER STATES 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) AU maritime security point person David Kajange said 
that infrastructure issues have become increasingly important 
for the AU and its member states, who place a priority on 
maritime security and are cognizant of the need to adhere to 
certain principles and actions to avoid losing maritime 
trade, he said.  Kajange noted that member states expect the 
AU to lead the charge in ensuring African country 
implementation of IMO conventions and other relevant maritime 
security measures. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Kajange said that the AU views member state 
implementation of International Ship and Port Facility 
Security Code (ISPS) provisions as particularly urgent and is 
working with the IMO towards that end.  (Note:  The AU and 
IMO recently signed a memorandum of cooperation.  End note.) 
As a first step, though, the AU plans a survey of member 
states to determine maritime security status and 
requirements.  Kajange said that while African port 
authorities are relatively well organized and IMO port audits 
are under way, a continental legal and strategic framework 
for maritime issues is lacking. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Kajange noted that lack of agreement on maritime 
borders and limited capacity make policing maritime 
boundaries difficult.  At the same time, Somali piracy makes 
clear the inherent link between trade and peace and security 
of African coasts.  Kajange pointed out that maritime 
security is not only a question of ports and ships, but also 
of transport corridors in Africa.  He also noted that the AU 
sees linkages between overall infrastructure safety and 
stability and maritime security.  He confirmed that the AU 
views oil platform security as a continental issue and is 
considering how to navigate sensitivies to tackle the issue. 
According to Kajange, AU member states are pressing for a 
continental-level discussion of maritime issues and African 
representatives at the IMO have suggested a ministerial 
meeting. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
AU WELCOMES DIALOGUE WITH THE USG ON MARITIME SECURITY 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Kajange welcomed the opportunity to engage in 
dialogue with the USG, both to determine support requirements 
following the results of the AU survey, and to coordinate 
support delivery.  He said that the AU wants to ensure all 
member states adhere to a harmonized set of minimum 
standards, and also to put in place a structure for 
coordination and information-sharing.  Kajange stated that 
the AU is taking a systematic approach to maritime security, 
which puts a premium on needs-identification as a first step. 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00004178  002 OF 002 
 
 
 Kajange said that the AU expects survey results to be 
available by mid-2006, but noted that lack of funding has 
impeded the AU's ability to hire consultants for the task. 
(Note:  The AU has circulated an "immediate needs" funding 
request to partners, which includes USD 136,000 for "an 
evaluation of member state implementation of international 
conventions on maritime safety and security, including the 
ISPS; elaboration of a strategy and plan of action to 
accelerate member state implementation of maritime 
conventions; a stakeholders workshop; and a ministerial 
meeting on maritime security."  End note.) 
 
¶7. (SBU) Maj Gen Gration welcomed the AU initiative to 
enhance African maritime security.  He expressed interest in 
the AU's survey results, noting that a better understanding 
of the AU's specific requirements in the realm of maritime 
security will make it easier for G8 partners to coordinate 
assistance through the Africa Clearinghouse mechanism. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Maj Gen Gration noted that the AU will at some point 
also need to consider detection, command and control and 
integrated/interoperable capacity to act to enforce maritime 
security.  He suggested that an African Center of Excellence 
on maritime issues could be useful to harmonize training and 
other approaches.  Amb. Yates noted that Admiral Ulrich is 
planning a visit to Addis to meet with AU officials in 
February 2006 to further discuss ways in which NAVEUR may be 
able to assist the AU in meeting maritime security 
objectives. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Commissioner Zoba characterized his first 
interaction with EUCOM as "positive" and said the AU would 
welcome continued discussion with the USG on maritime 
security issues.  He added that the AU would also invite the 
U.S. to participate in major continental fora on maritime 
topics. 
 
¶10. (U) This cable was cleared by Maj Gen Gration and EUCOM 
Polad Amb. Yates. 
 
 
HUDDLESTON