VZCZCXRO0427
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHOU #0894 2811642
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071642Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4218
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000894 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/RSA JUN BANDO 
NEA/RA COL STEVE SOUCEK 
PM/PPA EVAN FOSTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018 
TAGS: PREL MAR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REACTION TO U.S. AFRICA 
COMMAND UPDATE 
 
REF: STATE 104550 
 
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.(C) Summary: On October 6, Charge d'Affaires, accompanied by 
Poloff, discussed the official standing up of AFRICOM with Mamoudou 
Barry, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, and Colonel 
Yssoufou Sawadogo, the director of military and defense cooperation. 
Barry appreciated the significance of AFRICOM and its great potential 
to increase counter-terrorism cooperation and development in Burkina 
Faso.  Although Burkina Faso now understands the purpose of AFRICOM, 
Barry explained that the command structure was not well-introduced, 
and initially, there was a good deal of confusion and skepticism 
about AFRICOM on the part of African countries.  End Summary. 
 
Terrorism and Development 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) During an October 6th meeting, Charge and Poloff presented 
reftel points to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense. 
Secretary General Barry used the meeting to reiterate Burkina Faso's 
desire to be included in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership (TSCTP), a request that Burkina Faso has made officially 
and which it continues to highlight at every opportunity.  Terrorist 
organizations are not currently present in Burkina Faso, he said, and 
the country hopes maintain its security by being proactive.  Barry 
used Burkina Faso's porous borders and poverty as indications of 
Burkina Faso's vulnerability to terrorist influences from outside of 
the country, saying that a poor population can be easily corrupted. 
Barry said that it is better to deal with these issues before they 
become serious threats. 
 
¶3. (C) Furthermore, Barry argued that when there is terrorism in a 
country, development becomes impossible.  Barry appreciated the 
comprehensive approach that AFRICOM will take to addressing security, 
development, and diplomacy and asked about future cooperation between 
AFRICOM and USAID, who, he pointed out, is no longer in Burkina Faso. 
 The Charge explained that AFRICOM does support the U.S. mission of 
development in general, and that in Burkina Faso, the Millennium 
Challenge Cooperation will be the primary U.S. agency that focuses on 
development. 
 
Negative first impressions no longer a problem 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (C) The Secretary General told Charge that when AFRICOM was first 
announced last year, the general impression among his African 
counterparts was that the U.S. military was going to create a large 
and imposing base somewhere in Africa.  According to Barry, Burkina 
Faso, as well as many other African Military leaders he spoke with 
were wary of what this new military cooperation with the U.S might 
mean for their respective countries. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Thanks primarily to the AFRICOM conference held in 
Washington, D.C. in March, 2008, the goals and purpose of AFRICOM are 
clearer now than they were when AFRICOM was first announced in 2007. 
While some misconceptions and confusion about what AFRICOM does may 
still exist, Burkina Faso and other countries now understand that the 
same military programs and activities they now participate in with 
EUCOM will be moving to AFRICOM. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: Burkina Faso continues to be an excellent partner 
to the U.S. in the fight against terrorism and in other areas as 
well.  Post believes the Government is interested in continuing this 
partnership and in growing existing programs and opportunities with 
AFRICOM. 
 
LAEUCHLI