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R 221334Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4741
INFO AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
CJTF HOA

S E C R E T PORT LOUIS 000292 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E 
AF/RSA FOR BITTRICK AND BANDO 
ANTAN FOR DAO 
NAIROBI FOR KUSLO 
 
E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 09/22/2019 
TAGS: MARR MOPS SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES: OCEAN LOOK TOPS AGENDA DURING 
PRESIDENTIAL MEETING 
 
REF: A. A) BLASER-DEPT SEYCHELLES-PIRACY EMAILS MAY 5-6 
     ¶B. B) PORT LOUIS 132 
     ¶C. C) PORT LOUIS 127 
     ¶D. D) PORT LOUIS 381 
     ¶E. E) PORT LOUIS 316 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Virginia Blaser for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d) 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) This is an action message for Department and Africa 
Command. Please see paras 3d(i), 3h, and 3j below. 
 
¶2.  (S/NOFORN) SUMMARY:  On September 18, Charge d'Affaires 
(CDA) met with President James Michel to deliver ref A points 
on the issue of piracy and the role of the Ocean Look 
operation in the Seychelles. Permanent Secretary Jean Paul 
Adam and POLOFF attended as notetakers. The President cleared 
on all ref A points, adding that the Government of Seychelles 
is "committed to work in partnership with the U.S. for peace 
and security in the region and around the world."  The GOS, 
he said, is prepared to contribute its share to the combating 
of regional and world security problems, including support to 
counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-drug, force 
protection, and humanitarian assistance projects.  Should the 
U.S. have additional requirements, the President would be 
amenable to providing support to other or expanded missions, 
requesting only that any such proposals be delivered to him 
personally before any other USG-GOS approach is made. The 
Seychellois people support the UAV presence in the country, 
Adam added, and the President recommend GOS and USG consider 
jointly whether some kind of appropriate ceremony be 
considered for the first flights of the UAVs from Mahe.  The 
President also indicated a willingness to review a US draft 
MOU for piracy transfer and trials.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------- 
OCEAN LOOK OPS 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (S/NOFORN entire paragraph 3) On September 18, Charge 
d'Affaires met with President James Michel to provide ref A 
briefing points and generally discuss the Ocean Look project. 
Points provided are repeated below, for the record, including 
the President's reaction point-by-point: 
 
     a) (S) CDA noted that with the UAVs due to arrive 
on/about 25 September, it was time to have a direct, 
classified review with the President on the UAV operation and 
operational plan.  While we had discussed in various meeting 
the generalities of the project, USG wanted to ensure 
transparency and good dialogue with the President on this 
important mission.  The President agreed, and noted how 
pleased he was with the mission to date, and that he looked 
forward to the discussion with CDA.  He agreed that the 
briefing was "Secret" and concurred with the need to maintain 
discussions in very close-hold circles (full disclosure at 
present, he said, with just himself and Jean Paul Adam). 
 
     b) (S) CDA informed the President that this was the 
first deployment of these US Navy UAVs; and that the UAV 
program would include a contingent of personnel for launch 
and recovery, force protection and maintenance personnel. 
The total number of USG personnel in Seychelles for this 
mission would be approximately 77.  The President said this 
was reasonable and understood the need for this size and type 
of contingent. 
 
     c)  (S) As authorized by the recent Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA), around-the-clock military uniformed and 
armed security guards will be in place within the designated 
access controlled airfield hangar/operations facilities. 
Security is anticipated to consist of 8 man teams armed with 
M-16 rifles and/or 9 mm pistols.  Storage of weapons and 
small arms ammunition will be within the access controlled 
hangar/operations facilities and will be continuously 
guarded.  No weapons or ammunition would leave the controlled 
area.  The CDA added that a Force Protection Plan had been 
provided the previous day to the MFA, and would be provided 
later on the 18th to the Chief of the Defense Forces.  USG 
requested GOS concurrence of this plan prior to weapons or 
ammunition arriving in Seychelles. The President thanked CDA, 
noting that foreign import and use of weapons could be 
politically sensitive in Seychelles (given its political 
history), and that he recognized that such usage fell under 
our SOFA agreement. Nonetheless, he asked CDA to ensure that 
the plan was approved by Brigadier General Payet, the Chief 
of the Defense Forces, prior to bringing the weapons and 
ammunition into the country. Jean Paul Adam noted that the 
agreement that weapons and ammunition would not leave the 
secure area was in line with all prior discussions with USG 
reps on the subject. 
 
     d) (S) USG desires to be completely transparent with the 
President with regard to activities of the UAVs while they 
are flown from the Seychellois territory.  CDA noted that 
while direct discussion between our governments had included 
references to a range of activities these UAVs could conduct, 
the USG wanted to clarify our intent to conduct an array of 
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities 
with these airframes, and to provide specifics to the GOS 
regarding such activities.  Such activities, would include 
counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-drug, force 
protection for African union missions, and humanitarian 
assistance.  More specifically: 
 
        i) (S) Counter-terrorism missions will involve 
intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance flights over 
the Horn of Africa to support ongoing counter-terrorism 
efforts.  The UAVs originating from Seychelles and flying 
counter-terrorism mission will not conduct direct attacks. 
The CDA stressed the sensitive nature of this 
counter-terrorism mission and that this not be released 
outside of the highest GOS channels.  The President 
wholeheartedly concurred with that request, noting that such 
issues could be politically sensitive for him as well. 
President Michel opined that piracy and terrorism can be 
similar, and in the case of Somalia, that country could prove 
as a "nest for terrorism" if the problem isn't attacked head 
on.  The two issues of piracy and terrorism in Somalia, 
therefore, are linked and very important.  He also asked 
whether, in addition to publicly released "anti-piracy" 
element of these UAVs, the USG/GOS might be able to mention 
publicly that the UAVs could also serve counter-drug goals. 
He noted that he is working to "clean up" drug problems in 
the Seychelles, and that making note of this would be very 
useful in discouraging drug operations around the islands. 
Action request for addressees: Request permission to allow 
for counter-drug element to be released officially either by 
the GOS or the USG. 
 
        ii) (S) Although ref A briefing points provided "if 
asked" comments regarding force protection of African Union 
missions involving the supply of threat warning to AMISOM 
commanders, the President did not ask for clarification of 
the "AU Force Protection" point, so CDA did not/not raise 
this ref A talking point. 
 
        iii) (S) Humanitarian assistance missions would only 
be conducted following a natural disaster where the impacted 
nation has requested USG assistance.  The President said he 
had not considered natural disaster assistance element of 
this UAV asset, and considered it a very good use of the UAV 
program. 
 
     e)  (S) Each UAV sortie is able to conduct more than one 
of these activities (counter-piracy, counter-drug, 
counter-terrorism) during a single mission.  The President 
said he understood completely and had no concerns about the 
multi-use element of these UAVs. 
 
     f)  (S) The first two to three weeks of activities will 
focus on equipment calibration and ground and flight testing 
in and around the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone.  The 
President said that this "made sense" and wondered whether 
the USG and GOS could consider an "appropriate outreach" 
event around the first few take offs of the UAVs.  Perhaps an 
invitation to the press to see a UAV up close, to take photos 
and/or have some sort of "inauguration flight." He thought 
this would go over very well locally. 
 
     g) (S) These missions will be flown over the Seychelles, 
the Western Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa.  The 
president concurred. 
 
     h)  (S) If a threat is detected by the UAV which may 
affect the Seychelles, the USG intends to provide the 
relevant counter-piracy and counter-terrorism information 
from the UAV to the GOS. The President was pleased that this 
kind of cooperation would be forthcoming, and presumed that 
such information would not be usable in a court of law, but 
rather as a heads up to his own (or coalition partners) to 
intersect suspicious activity and thus develop their own 
legal case against criminal activity.  Jean Paul Adam 
commented that we will need to create a mechanism for quick 
and appropriate passage of information from the UAVs to the 
GOS.  (Action request: Post requests Africa Command provide 
recommend SOP for passage of such information for Embassy 
review and discussion.) 
 
      i)  (S) The apportionment of the UAV sorties toward one 
activity vice another is unpredictable and will be driven by 
threats and intelligence collection requirements. The 
President said he understood and had no concerns on this 
point. 
 
      j)  (S) There is no plan, at this time, to arm these 
UAVs.  Should the desire to do so ever arise, the USG would 
seek discrete, specific discussions with the appropriate GOS 
officials to gain approval.  The President concurred, and 
asked that such approval be sought by in-person contact 
directly with the President and not anyone else in the GOS. 
He would be willing to consider a range of future and 
expantionary requests, but would need to consider the 
internal Seychellois political environment and implications 
at the time any request would be made.  CDA added that the 
GOS should be aware that the UAVs, although unarmed, do have 
equipment that could appear to the public as being weapons, 
and asked for the President's opinion regarding the best way 
to ensure assumptions weren't made by those who see the UAVs 
taking off from the public airport. The President noted that 
his earlier idea of having some kind of press/outreach event, 
in which this could be explained, would be very helpful. 
(Action Request: Post requests review of the possibility for 
such an event, and concurs that it would be positive gesture. 
If possible, Post would recommend a "UAV air show," allowing 
reporters to view the UAVs in their non-sensitive 
configuration (i.e. prior to installing any sensitive gear), 
if possible) 
 
 
¶4. (S/NOFORN) At the end of the brief, President Michel told 
CDA that "everything is clear" and that he looks forward to 
continued cooperation and development on this program.  He 
understand that in the future, there may be other situations 
and needs from the USG and that he stands ready to have 
discussions on such points or requirements. The United States 
should consider Seychelles a partner for the long term, he 
noted, and that Seychelles wishes to contribute its fair 
share to the combat against piracy, terrorism, drugs, and 
other regional and world security concerns.  "We know we are 
small, but we believe our location can be strategically 
important" for the United States, said President Michel.  He 
noted that he had "no further questions" and that he is 
confident everything is moving well and in the right 
direction. Let's just proceed, he finished. 
 
 
¶5. (C) According to Jean Paul Adam, the Seychellois people 
are happy to have the UAVs present in their country.  They 
see it as a serious step in the fight against piracy it and 
sends a message of deterrence to pirates, terrorists, drug 
smugglers, and illegal fishing boats in the region.  Everyone 
is taking the presence of the UAVs "the right way" and the 
GOS wants to be open and transparent with the general public 
in the non-sensitive areas of the program. 
 
----------- 
PIRACY MOU? 
----------- 
 
¶6.  (C/NOFORN) CDA raised the topic of piracy trials and 
asked how negotiations were going with the EU and the UK. 
"Not always smoothly" Adam said, adding that he had urged his 
Attorney General to look toward the American model of signing 
a SOFA first, then moving toward collaborative talks, vice 
the EU/UK method if putting a set document on piracy trials 
forward without "the needed infrastructure." The GOS welcomes 
receipt of a USG MOU for piracy trial and detention, 
recognizing that the USG is willing to have collaborative 
discussions and has demonstrated a willingness to make 
changes to the MOU in the reflection of the Seychelles 
context. This type of collaborative process goes a long way 
to renew and strengthen the cooperation between the 
Seychelles and U.S. governments, he added. (NOTE: Post 
provided the L forwarded MOU draft to GOS on 22 September, 
and will continue to follow-up for reactions/comments to 
forward to appropriate DOS stakeholders. END NOTE.) 
 
------------ 
MEDIA REFORM 
------------ 
 
¶7.  (C) The President raised some of his recent efforts in 
improving openness and a democracy in his country.  He has 
used, he said, the economic reforms as a platform for 
long-needed changes in his country.  One reform in particular 
has to do with the media.  The President commissioned a study 
written by a member of the opposition and one from a former 
Reporters Without Borders" officer, to research media in 
Seychelles and make recommendations on media reform.  It is 
time to open up our media, said the President.  This study 
initially received criticism from the opposition, said Adam, 
but now that it is finished and posted on our government 
website, many opposition members see it as a positive move 
forward. 
 
---------------------------------- 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FOR WASHINGTON 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (S) CDA noted that the President was not going to attend 
the UNGA, and asked whether he might have a final message for 
Washington on all the above points.  "Yes," he said.  "Please 
tell Washington that the Seychelles is committed to work in 
partnership with the U.S. for peace and security in the 
region and in the world." 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9.  (S/NOFORN) The meeting with the President was very 
cordial and warm. He provided all the needed concurrence and 
support to the Ocean Look operation. The discussions 
solidified his personal desire for the Seychelles to be a 
partner in the program and he is fully committed to working 
with us on the way ahead.  USG should be cognizant, however, 
that President Michel faces some internal controversy; not on 
Ocean Look per se, but politically even within his own party. 
 According to a variety of discussions between CDA and other 
COMs, the President's initiative to minimize corruption -- 
particularly counter-drug efforts -- is not well received by 
those in power who benefit from such illegal activities. 
Ocean Look provides the President with some public 
credibility as a president who can deliver for the protection 
of his people and the general economy.  His decision not to 
attend UNGA and the lunch with President Obama comes from his 
desire to instead to spend the time "in the constituencies 
conducting grass-roots outreach directly to the Seychellois 
people" (quote from Jean Paul Adam).  It could be seen that 
this outreach is an effort to shore up popular support. 
 
 
BLASER