VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPL #0248/01 2231254
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111254Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4685
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHPIGXW/CJTF HOA
RULSJGI/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0361
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0614
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO 0848

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000248 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E AND AF/RSA 
PARIS, LONDON FOR AFRICA-WATCHER 
AFRICOM AND CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS PREL PGOV KPKO MP
SUBJECT: MAURITIUS SCENESETTER - UPCOMING VISIT OF GENERAL WILLIAM 
¶E. WARD 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  Embassy Mauritius warmly welcomes AFRICOM 
Commander General Ward and his delegation to Mauritius, a diverse 
democracy currently led by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.  The USG 
enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Mauritius, including 
strong cooperation on security issues and participation in USG 
military training programs.  Mauritius' sovereignty claim over the 
Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, is a sensitive 
issue that is often raised by interlocutors.  As one of the 
strongest economies in Africa, Mauritius actively pursues increased 
trade with the U.S.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------ 
COUNTRY BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Republic of Mauritius is a multi-ethnic, democratic 
archipelago of 1.2 million people.  The population are for the most 
part of Indian, African, Chinese and European descent.  English is 
the administrative language; however, French and Creole are widely 
used in daily interaction.  The head of state is President Anerood 
Jugnauth.  The head of government and real power is Prime Minister 
Navin Ramgoolam, who was elected in 2005 for a five-year term. 
Mauritius is Africa's most successful example of economic 
development, moving from a per capita income of about $200 at 
independence in 1968 to over $6,300 in 2007.  Peaceful transfers of 
power after credible elections have been the rule here since 
independence was won in 1968. 
 
------------------------------------ 
U.S. - MAURITIUS BILATERAL RELATIONS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The USG enjoys excellent bilateral relations with the 
Government of Mauritius (GOM).  Embassy officials regularly engage 
the government on security issues, trade promotion, human rights, 
counterterrorism, and law enforcement and military training. The 
Embassy's Public Diplomacy section frequently hosts digital video 
conferences and speakers on a variety of topics including 
non-violence in the Muslim communities, conflict resolution and 
peace building, the role of the media in a democracy, and diversity 
issues.  In 2008, the U.S. Department of the Treasury launched a 
program with Mauritius' Independent Commission Against Corruption 
(ICAC) to increase ICAC's capacity to identify, investigate, and 
prosecute corruption and related financial crimes, including money 
laundering. 
 
¶4. (U) The U.S. Defense Representative for Mauritius is Commander 
John E. Ries, based out of U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar. 
 DATT is responsible for security assistance programs to Mauritius, 
which focus on coastal security through International Military 
Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) 
to support the Mauritius Coast Guard.  Since 2007 the Mauritius 
Government has provided a Liaison Officer from the Mauritius Special 
Mobile Forces to the staff of CJTF-HOA at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. 
 
--------------- 
SECURITY ISSUES 
--------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) All Mauritian Security forces are under the command of 
Police Commissioner Dhun Ishwar Rampersad, who reports to the Prime 
Minister.  The Prime Minister has the Defense portfolio.  The 11,000 
strong force includes the National Police, the paramilitary Special 
Mobile Force (SMF) and the National Coast Guard.  The Mauritian 
Coast Guard is primarily tasked with maritime law enforcement 
through policing the ports, harbors and coastline of Mauritius, as 
well as providing search and rescue at sea.  The Coast Guard is led 
by an Indian Naval Commander and several Indian Naval officers.  A 
small yet professional organization, the Coast Guard mission 
includes the fight against smuggling and terrorism - which supports 
U.S. DoD goals of helping friends and allies to strengthen their 
regional maritime security capabilities in the war against 
terrorism.  On July 22, Post attended an inter-ministerial meeting 
chaired by Permanent Secretary (PS) Doreen Fong Weng-Poorun of the 
Prime Minister's Office, where she said that combating piracy is a 
priority on the GOM's agenda.  The meeting, an initiative of the 
British High Commissioner, included a French Embassy representative 
as well. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Mauritian officials have expressed rhetorical support for 
 
participation in Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) that has not yet 
translated into action.  Although its highly-trained, well equipped, 
bilingual security forces are ideal for police peacekeeping 
operations (PKO), Mauritius has limited participation in PKOs. 
Nonetheless, the USG has trained over 100 Mauritian personnel for 
peacekeeping operations since 2003. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The announcement of a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) was 
well-received by Mauritian leaders.  Former Mauritian Ambassador to 
the U.S. Kailash Ruhee actively engaged in meetings at the National 
Defense University regarding the establishment of AFRICOM.  Ruhee is 
currently the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister.  Although the 
GOM has expressed interest in AFRICOM numerous times at various 
levels, its end commitment to AFRICOM is likely to be influenced by 
the level of support it receives from other African nations. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The Embassy enjoys a close relationship with the Mauritius 
Police Force and other law enforcement and security organizations 
due in large part to U.S. sponsored training programs that have 
successfully taught hundreds of officers in various fields of 
expertise.  The majority of these programs are offered through the 
Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism 
Assistance program.  Training courses are offered in the United 
States, in Mauritius, or at the International Law Enforcement 
Academy in Gaborone, Botswana.  The Embassy openly shares most law 
enforcement information with the GOM and is in return kept informed 
of any developments that could affect our security. 
 
¶9. (U) The U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) 
courses and Mobile Training Teams aim to improve Mauritian maritime 
capabilities.  The primary goal is boosting their ability to control 
the Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through surveillance, 
detection, and enforcement which will in turn reduce economic losses 
from illegal fishing and help protect Mauritius from terrorism and 
criminal activity.  Mauritian paramilitary personnel have also 
received peacekeeping training through IMET. 
 
¶10. (SBU) There are some small anti-U.S. groups on the island that 
have held peaceful demonstrations in the past.  The last 
anti-American demonstration outside the Embassy took place in April 
¶2006.  The Muslim community in Mauritius (about 15 percent of the 
population) has reacted relatively calmly to world events in the 
past few years that sparked violent anti-U.S. or anti-Western 
demonstrations in some other countries.  The GOM is a partner in the 
struggle against extremism, but tends to be discreet about it to 
avoid stirring up domestic cultural and religious issues. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
CHAGOS SOVEREIGNTY CLAIM AND DIEGO GARCIA 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Government of Mauritius sovereignty claim over the 
British-controlled Chagos Archipelago, which includes a strategic 
U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, is a long-standing dispute which 
has not negatively affected bilateral relations.  In a radio 
interview in early 2007, President Jugnauth stated that Mauritius 
would be willing to withdraw from the Commonwealth to pursue its 
sovereignty claim.  However, the Prime Minister quickly clarified 
that this was not the official government stance. 
 
-------------------------- 
CHAGOSSIAN QUEST TO RETURN 
-------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Most of the Chagossians who inhabited the archipelago were 
relocated to Mauritius.  These former inhabitants continue their 
quest to return to the island through legal channels.  The Mauritian 
media and government are publicly sympathetic to the plight of the 
Chagossians, but some have privately expressed doubt about the 
strength of the Chagossians' intention to return.  While the USG has 
an interest in these matters, they are bilateral issues between 
Mauritius and the UK. 
 
---------------- 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
---------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) Mauritius is a parliamentary democracy governed by a Prime 
Minister, Council of Ministers, and a National Assembly.  The 
country has enjoyed political stability since independence in 1968. 
 
Despite its strong and vibrant multiparty democracy, the 
ethnically-based political party competition tends to exacerbates 
social tensions.  Politics and political campaigns are based heavily 
on appeals to ethnic and religious sentiment rather than policy or 
ideology.  A March 2007 court decision that prohibited a mosque from 
using loudspeakers for calls to prayer resulted in highly-charged 
threats of large protests by some local Muslim leaders.  However, in 
Mauritian fashion, the matter was settled through a local compromise 
calling for quieter loudspeakers. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Mauritius' strong democratic institutions and positive 
human rights record make it an ideal candidate for leadership in 
international organizations.  In 2009, Mauritius was re-elected for 
a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.  Although Mauritius generally 
concurs with U.S. views, it is often reluctant to commit to a 
position different from that of the African Bloc. 
 
------- 
ECONOMY 
------- 
 
¶15. (U) Mauritius has realized a remarkable economic transformation 
from a mono-crop economy based on sugar production to a diversified 
economy resting on export-oriented manufacturing (mainly textiles), 
tourism, and financial and business services sectors.  In recent 
years, Information and Communication Technology, Hospitality and 
Property Development, the Seafood and Marine Industry, and the 
Biomedical Industry have emerged, attracting substantial investment 
from both local and foreign investors.  GDP growth reached 5.3 
percent in 2008, but is expected to slow down to 2.3 percent in 2009 
as a result of the global economic downturn. Although tourism and 
textiles have contracted significantly, some other sectors, such as 
agriculture, manufacturing (other than textiles), transport and 
communication, and financial services are still doing well. 
 
¶16. (U) On September 18, 2006, the United States and Mauritius 
signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), whose main 
objective is to strengthen and expand trade and investment relations 
between the two countries.  Under the TIFA, a United 
States-Mauritius Trade and Investment Council has been formed to 
address a wide range of issues that include trade promotion and 
development, export diversification, trade capacity building, 
intellectual property, labor, investment, and environmental issues. 
Mauritius hosted the Third TIFA Council Meeting on April 21-22, 
¶2009.  On August 5, in a special ceremony at the 8th AGOA Forum held 
in Nairobi, Kenya, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton, U.S. Trade 
Representative Kirk, and Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs, 
Regional Integration and International Trade Dr. Arvin Boolell 
announced the launch of formal negotiations for a Bilateral 
Investment Treaty (BIT) with Mauritius.  The conclusion of a BIT 
will provide a legal framework that should further encourage 
investment flows between the United States and Mauritius. 
 
¶17. (U) Mauritius benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity 
Act (AGOA), which allows more than 6,400 items to enter the U.S. 
duty free.  Mauritian exports to the U.S. under AGOA focus primarily 
on the textile and apparel sector, though both governments are 
encouraging diversification into other areas.  In October 2008, 
Mauritius was granted the third-country fabric exemption (aka the 
"derogation"), which allows Mauritian-manufactured clothing made 
from fabric originating anywhere in the world duty-free access to 
the U.S. market. 
 
----------------- 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
----------------- 
 
¶18. (SBU) Mauritius's closest bilateral partner is India.  Ties 
consisted mostly of cultural exchanges until the 1990s when India 
imposed a stronger commercial aspect to the relationship.  In the 
past few years, Indian companies have invested in the hotel, 
financial, information and communications technology, 
telecommunications, health, oil storage and distribution, beverages, 
and education sectors in Mauritius.  Prime Minister Ramgoolam and 
other high-level Mauritian officials make frequent trips to New 
Delhi, and Indian President Kalam visited Mauritius in March 2006. 
High-profile Indian assistance to Mauritius included construction of 
the Cyber Tower and the Swami Vivekananda Conference Center.  The 
Mauritian Coast Guard is led by Indian Naval Commander Vishal Singh 
Kanwar.  Recently, an Indian Naval vessel visited Mauritius and 
 
Rodrigues to conduct hydrographic surveys of the ports and greater 
sea floors in Mauritian territorial waters. 
 
¶19. (SBU) France, the original colonial power in Mauritius, has the 
next most important bilateral relationship.  It focuses on 
commercial, political, and cultural aspects.  Ties with the UK 
(colonial power 1815-1968), South Africa, and the U.S. are also 
important.  During the Chinese President's visit on February 16 and 
17, China and Mauritius signed a funding agreement amounting to USD 
281 million that will go mainly towards the extension of the airport 
terminal. From January-September 2008, Mauritius imported $ 330 
million worth of goods from China, which represents 11 percent of 
total Mauritian imports, making China the second largest source 
(after India) of imports for Mauritius.  Mauritius is one of the 
major investors in Madagascar, and as such has been reluctant to 
condemn the High Transitional Authority led by Andry Rajoelina.  The 
GOM participates in regional discussions regarding the situation in 
Madagascar. 
 
BLASER