VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #1165/01 1070632
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170632Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5655

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX AND DS/IP/OPO/FPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AFIN ABLD ABUD ASEC ET
SUBJECT: REQUEST FUNDING TO INCREASE LOCAL GUARD FORCE PROGRAM AND 
OTHER SECURITY REQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT INCREASED/GROWING DIPLOMATIC 
PRESENCE IN ADDIS ABABA 
 
¶1.  This is an action request. See paragraph 12 for action 
requested. 
 
¶2.  SUMMARY: Over the past several months, Embassy Addis Ababa 
acquired 17 additional off-compound residences to support new 
positions assigned to Post and provide housing for personnel who 
previously resided on the Chancery compound and are being relocated 
in preparation for construction of the NEC (the majority of 
on-compound residences are scheduled to be demolished).  By the 
summer 2007, Embassy Addis Ababa will acquire a total of 34 
additional off-compound residences to support a combination of new 
positions assigned to post (as well as personnel being relocated 
from the Embassy compound), and will have a total of 125 off 
compound residential locations spread out over three separate 
residential districts of the city. Over the past year the Embassy 
spent over 24,000 USD for Local Guard force (LGF) overtime to meet 
additional security requirements, primarily related to staffing 
posts at recently acquired residences.  This expense will increase 
as the Mission continues to grow and the RSO office is required to 
meet increased security requirements.  Our already stretched LGF 
will be unable to meet this requirement if it is not provided 
additional personnel and equipment.  In order to provide necessary 
security support for the increased number of residences and USDH 
personnel, RSO Addis Ababa requires additional Local Guard Force 
(LGF) personnel and resources. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  The 34 additional off-compound residences are as follows: 
 
--------------------------------------- 
U.S Mission to the African Union (USAU) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 3 residences to 
support USAU as follows: 
 
USAU COM 
USAU POL/ECON 
USAU OMS 
 
By summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 4 additional residences to 
support USAU as follows: 
 
USAU DCM 
USAU PAO 
USAU HEALTH OFFICER 
USAID FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICER 
 
All above residences (with the exception of the USAU COM) will be 
assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard coverage. The USAU COM residence will 
be assigned 3 guards on duty, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
 
----- 
USAID 
----- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 5 residences to 
support USAID as follows: 
 
USAID FOOD FOR PEACE 
USAID DEPUTY CONTRACTING OFFICER 
USAID COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 
USAID HIV ADVISOR 
USAID Financial Management Officer 
 
By Summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 1 additional residences to 
support USAID as follows: 
 
USAID CONTRACTING OFFICER 
 
All above USAID residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard 
coverage. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
AFRICAN CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (ACSS) 
------------------------------------------- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 1 residence to support 
ACSS as follows: 
 
ACSS Director 
 
By Summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 1 additional residences to 
support ACSS as follows: 
 
ACSS Deputy Director 
 
All above ACSS residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard 
coverage. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE HORN OF AFRICA (CJTF HOA) 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
By Summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 1 additional residences to 
support CJTF HOA as follows: 
 
CJTF HOA NCOIC 
 
All above CJTF HOA residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard 
coverage. 
 
----------------------------- 
REGIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICE (RAO) 
----------------------------- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 3 residences to 
support RAO as follows: 
 
RAO DEPUTY 
RAO ANALYST 
RAO ANALYST 
 
By summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 2 additional residences to 
support RAO as follows: 
 
RAO SECURITY OFFICER 
RAO ADMIN OFFICER 
 
All above RAO residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard 
coverage. 
 
------------- 
MISCELLANEOUS 
------------- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 2 residences to 
support miscellaneous requirements as follows: 
 
DCM 
ARSO 
 
By summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 7 additional residences to 
support miscellaneous requirements as follows: 
 
DATT NCO 
DEPUTY POL/ECON OFFICER 
POL/ECON OFFICER 
MSG DET COMMANDER 
RSO STS 
VICE COUNSUL 
COM OMS 
 
All above residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day guard 
coverage. 
 
----------- 
PEACE CORPS 
----------- 
 
Since November 2006, the Embassy has acquired 3 residences to 
support Peace Corps requirements as follows: 
 
COUNTRY DIRECTOR 
ADMIN OFFICER 
COMMUNITY HEALTH OFFICER 
 
By summer 2007, the Embassy will acquire 1 additional residence to 
support Peace Corps requirements as follows: 
 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
 
All above Peace Corp residences will be assigned 12 hour, 7 day 
guard coverage. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
ADDITIONAL LGF AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The increased U.S. Mission presence in Addis Ababa will require 
one additional LGF Mobile Patrol on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week. Our existing 3 LGF mobile patrol teams are already stretched 
to the limit, providing security patrol services to over 100 
locations and responding to calls for assistance throughout the 4 
geographic regions (Entoto, Bole, Old Airport and Piazza) of Addis 
Ababa the Embassy maintains official and residential locations. By 
the end of summer 2007 the Embassy expect to have a total of 125 
residential compounds.  Addis Ababa hosts the third largest US 
diplomatic presence in Africa, with over 500 U.S. Direct Hire (USDH) 
 
 
personnel and their members of household under Chief of Mission 
(COM) authority. Local traffic conditions are becoming increasingly 
congested, delaying response times to an unacceptable level. Local 
police response is not reliable and generally deficient to support 
our requirements. In order to provide personnel under COM authority 
a reasonable level of security services under local conditions, RSO 
Addis Ababa requests funding assistance to implement an additional 
mobile patrol team (to include employing additional LGF personnel, 
purchasing an additional LGF patrol vehicle and operating expenses). 
A LGF mobile patrol team requires two LGF personnel on duty (a 
driver and a supervisor) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  To staff 
this post, we will require 7 additional LGF personnel. A LGF patrol 
vehicle will cost 25,000 USD to purchase, and 5,800 USD to operate 
for one year.  Total amount required to stand-up an additional LGF 
mobile patrol team is 73,700 USD. 
 
 
¶5.  The USAU COM residence requires 3 guards on duty, 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week. To staff these posts, we will require 10.5 LGF 
personnel.  Total amount to stand up LGF support for USAU COM 
residence is 43,000 USD per year. 
 
¶6.  Each of the additional 33 residences will have one LGF personnel 
on duty, 12 hours a day (1830 to 0630), 7 days a week.  To staff 
these posts, we will require 1.75 LGF personnel per residential 
location for a total of 57.75 LGF personnel.  The total cost 
(salary, benefits, uniforms and miscellaneous equipment) to employ 
one LGF residential   personnel for a year is 4,100 USD.  Total 
amount required to stand up LGF presence at 33 residences is 236,755 
USD per year. 
 
------------ 
LGF UNIFORMS 
------------ 
 
¶7.  Additional guards require additional uniforms and related 
equipment. Each new guard requires the following: 
 
BDU Pants, 2 each per year:  60.00 USD 
 
Polo Shirt, 4 each per year: 60.00 USD 
 
Parka, 1 each every 3 years: 40.00 USD 
 
Windbreaker, 1 each every 3 years: 18.00 USD 
 
Flight jacket:  1 each every 3 years: 30.00 USD 
 
Security cap: 1 each every 1 year: 8.00 USD 
 
Sweater: 1 each every 2 years: 40.00 USD 
 
Socks: 2 each every year:  10.00 USD 
 
Raincoat:  1 each every 2 years: 14.00 USD 
 
Safety Boots: 1 each every 2 years: 65.00 USD 
 
Equipment Belt: 1 each until worn out: 25.00 USD 
 
Uniform trouser belt: 1 each until worn out: 7.00 USD 
 
Radio Carrier: 1 each until worn out: 27.00 USD 
 
Whistle: 1 each until worn out: 8.00 USD 
 
Baton Holder: 1 each until worn out: 4.00 USD 
 
Flashlight holder: 1 each until worn out: 4.00 USD 
 
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUIRED UNIFORM/EQUIP EACH GUARD: 420 USD 
 
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUIRED UNIFORM/EQUIP 70 GUARDS: 29,400 USD 
 
------------------------------------------ 
RESIDENTIAL PHYSICAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8.  The average cost to complete security improvements at one newly 
acquired residence is as follows: 
 
SECURITY GRILLS:  3500 USD 
RAZOR WIRE:       1700 USD 
LOCKS:             400 USD 
SECURITY ALARM:   1400 USD 
SRWF               700 USD 
 
TOTAL:            7700 USD 
 
 
Local property owners are generally reluctant to complete required 
physical security improvements as part of the lease agreement.  The 
Embassy actively favors leasing residences that already meet most of 
our physical security requirements, with limited success.  Before 
acquiring a residence, the Embassy aggressively negotiates with the 
landlord to complete required physical security improvements as part 
of the lease agreement.  On the rare occasion they do, it is cost 
prohibitive and reduces (in some cases eliminates) the GSO's ability 
to negotiate favorable lease terms and conditions in the locally 
competitive and property owner friendly real estate market.  RSO 
Addis Ababa requires 261,800 USD to complete physical security 
improvements to 34 newly acquired residences. 
 
-------------- 
RADIOS FOR LGF 
-------------- 
 
¶9.  Currently the LGF has 155 hand held two-way radio units to 
support operations at the Embassy, USAID, CDC, Warehouse, 3 mobile 
patrols and approximately 100 residential locations. The Embassy has 
not purchased any two-way radio equipment for the LGF since early 
¶2004.  Some of these radios units have exceeded their useful service 
life and are no longer fully functional or reliable. Each of the 
newly acquired residential locations will require one hand held 
radio for LGF use. We require a total of 40 new handheld replacement 
radios for LGF use. Each handheld radio unit costs 800 USD, 
including a radio, battery, charger and programming. LGF operations 
also require 2 base station radios (16,000 USD) to support 
operations at the GSO warehouse and Peace Corps compound. Total 
amount required to bring the LGF hand held radio network up-to-date 
will require 75,200 USD. 
 
-------------------------------- 
RESIDENTIAL SECURITY COORDINATOR 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶10. By the end of summer of 2007, post will have over 120 
residential units consisting of single unit houses (multiple unit 
compounds are not readily available on the local real estate market) 
spread out over an ever increasing geographic area. The majority of 
these residences do not meet physical security standards, or are 
otherwise deficient.  While the RSOs conduct initial surveys of all 
residences before they are acquired, we lack the time to 
sufficiently conduct follow up meetings with landlords, contractors 
and GSO to verify the necessary security work is completed before 
occupancy.  Over the past couple of years, more then half of the 
houses acquired failed to receive adequate attention in regards to 
ensuring physical security standards were met and maintained.  To 
correct this deficiency, RSO Addis Ababa requests funding assistance 
to establish an Eligible Family Member (EFM) Residential Security 
Coordinator (RSC) position. In addition to ensuring the residences 
meet physical security standards, the RSC will supervise a local 
staff of two residential security technicians, oversee an annual 
budget of approximately 261,000 USD, manage a large inventory of 
residential security equipment, manage a large number of pending 
work requests with post's GSO, manage on-going and consecutive 
projects completed by outside contractors as well as provide 
residential security briefings and orientation to occupants at their 
homes. 
 
¶11. The requested EFM RSC positions will require the following 
funding assistance tom establish: 
 
-35,000 USD for salary benefits and start up costs; 
 
-5,300 USD for furniture and equipment 
 
Total amount request to establish an EFM RSC position: 40,300 USD 
 
 
----------------------- 
TOTAL FUNDING REQUESTED 
----------------------- 
 
¶12.  In Summary, Addis Ababa RSO requests the following funding 
assistance to Post's LGF and security program: 
 
73,700 USD for an additional mobile patrol vehicle and staff; 
 
75,200 USD for LGF radios; 
 
261,800 USD for residential security upgrades; 
 
43,000 USD for residential guards at the USAU COM's residence; 
 
236,775 USD for residential guards at the thirty three new official 
residences; 
 
29,400 USD for LGF uniforms/equipment; 
 
 
 
43,300 to establish an EFM RSC position. 
 
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED:  $763,175.00. 
 
------------ 
RSO COMMENTS 
------------ 
 
¶13.  RSO Addis Ababa requests the Department's approval in regards 
to the above requirements, and provides the following comments: 
 
-Currently there are no viable alternatives other than employing 
FSN/PSC guards.  The majority of local security guard companies in 
Addis Ababa provide services at a very low standard in regards to 
personnel, management, uniforms, training, equipment and lack the 
experience and qualifications to protect diplomatic personnel and 
facilities.  There is only one semi-reasonable local company that 
provides contract security services; even this firm falls short of 
meeting the requirements of the Embassy in all aspects. 
 
-At present time there are no expatriate companies in Ethiopia that 
provide contract security services.  The GOE would most likely be 
reluctant to approve and receive foreign firms that provide contract 
security services in their county.  This is not likely to change in 
the near term; 
 
-There is no viable substitute to posting guards at Embassy houses 
during evening hours.  The crime rating for Ethiopia is high and the 
terrorism rating for Ethiopia remains a serious concern.  All other 
residences in Addis Ababa occupied by diplomatic and international 
entities as well as wealthier Ethiopians employ 24 hour guards.  If 
the Embassy can not meet this requirement, residences occupied by 
COM personnel will become soft targets and more vulnerable to 
hostile intrusion or attack; 
 
-The majority of diplomatic missions and international entities in 
resident in Addis Ababa employ in-house guards forces for the same 
reason we do - there are no other viable alternatives. 
 
-Embassy personnel already pay for guards out of their own pocket 
during the daytime hours (when they are more likely to be away from 
their residences), it is reasonable and prudent for the USG to 
provide professional, well-trained and equipped guards during the 
evening hours when they are more likely to be at home); 
 
-Automatic gate openers and central alarm monitoring systems do not 
exist in Ethiopia.  There are no companies in Ethiopia that provide 
these goods and services.  Furthermore, the Embassy lacks the 
logistical ability and technical expertise to implement and maintain 
this type of equipment; 
 
-One can not count on local police patrols and response capabilities 
to adequately ensure the security and safety of COM residences, 
personnel and their families.  Ethiopia is a developing country with 
limited resources and abilities.  Most working level law enforcement 
and security personnel are less then well trained, and do not speak 
English (most USDH personnel do not speak Amharic).  The USG has an 
obligation to take adequate measures towards ensuring the safety and 
security of diplomatic personnel and facilities.  A robust and 
capable LGF is our first line of defense, as well as the first 
responders we rely on when encountering routine situations as well 
as emergency incidents; 
 
-Clustered/compound housing is not available in the locally 
competitive and property owner friendly real estate market.  RSO 
Addis Ababa already works with Post management towards ensuring 
residences we acquire are located in the three residential districts 
where we already have houses. However, as we expand our diplomatic 
presence, the area in which we maintain residences will undoubtedly 
expand as well; 
 
-Local traffic conditions (heavy congestion) and increased number of 
USDH personnel and locations requires additional patrol coverage to 
ensure timely response in the event of an emergency.  We are already 
doing everything possible to maximize our three existing mobile 
patrols; we require an additional fourth patrol mobile patrol to 
support this growing Mission; 
 
-There is no replacement for maintaining a LGF radio network.  Cells 
phones are expensive to purchase and maintain.  During times of 
crisis local land line and cell phone networks become quickly 
overloaded and are frequently shut off by the host country 
government as a means of rumor control. There has not been any 
upgrades to the LGF radio network for over 3 years, some of the 
equipment is due to be replaced and additional equipment is required 
to support the growing number of locations protected by the LGF; 
 
-With the already large and growing number of Embassy residences, it 
 
 
is impossible for the RSOs to stay on top of ensuring residential 
security requirements are met and maintained.  Meetings with 
contractors and the GSO is time consuming, as is traveling to the 
residences through heavy traffic and the large geographic region in 
which they are located.  Without the EFM RST positions, the RSOs are 
faced with neglecting other responsibilities, to include; managing a 
large LGF managing physical and procedural security at five official 
locations (Embassy, USAID, CDC, Peace Corps and GSO Warehouse) and 
other areas requiring direct attention by USDH RSO personnel; 
 
-Without the requested LGF support the RSO will be unable to meet 
providing reasonable level of security for the Embassy.  Under 
current staffing, the LGF is already stretched beyond its capacity. 
In order to sustain current operations, we are forced to deny leave 
requests and accumulate a large amount of overtime.  For the longer 
term (especially as the Mission continues to grow), this situation 
is not sustainable for reasons of morale and economics. 
 
 
¶12.  The RSO urgently requires the above funding assistance in order 
to provide USG diplomatic personnel and their families a continued 
reasonable level of security. There are serious security concerns 
confronting U.S. diplomatic personnel throughout the region, 
including Addis Ababa.  With out additional LGF and security 
resources to meet the demands of this already large and rapidly 
growing mission, we will not be able to meet our obligations of 
ensuring the security of US diplomatic personnel family members and 
facilities. 
 
YAMAMOTO