VZCZCXRO6857
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #0686/01 2950925
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 220925Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0825
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000686 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2019 
TAGS: MARR ML PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: A TRIP TO GAO HIGHLIGHTS MISSION OBJECTIVES 
 
REF: BAMAKO 538 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
 (d). 
 
1.(SBU) Summary: On September 23, the Ambassador traveled to 
Gao to participate in the closing ceremony of a bilateral 
training (BILAT) exercise conducted by U.S. Army Special 
Forces alongside the Malian Army's Echelon Tactique 
Inter-Armes (ETIA) number one.  Following the ceremony, the 
Ambassador discussed USG development programs with the 
Governor of Gao region, Colonel Kalifa Keita.  The BILAT 
closing ceremony highlighted the importance of US-Mali 
cooperation in Mali's efforts to confront Al Qaeda in the 
Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), while the meeting with 
Colonel Keita underscored once more that security assistance 
must be seen within the wider framework of achieving 
stability through economic development.  End Summary. 
 
------------------ 
Training Exercises 
------------------ 
 
¶2. (S) On September 23, the Ambassador traveled to Gao to 
Participate in the closing ceremony of a bilateral training 
exercise conducted by U.S. Army Special Forces alongside the 
Malian Army's Echelon Tactique Inter-Armes (ETIA) number one. 
 In addition to various Malian representatives, the 
Ambassador was accompanied on the trip by the Deputy Chief of 
Mission from the Embassy of France, as well as the French 
Defense and Police/Security Attaches to Mali.  The Ambassador 
invited the French representatives to promote coordination 
between the two missions to demonstrate that the respective 
security assistance programs of France and the United States 
are complementary and reinforcing. 
 
¶3. (S) The four week intensive training covered infantry 
techniques and tactics, patrol planning, ambushes and raids, 
advanced medical training, heavy weapons training, 
marksmanship, and officer development courses.  The BILAT of 
ETIA number one, as well as the upcoming Joint Combined 
Exchange Training (JCET) of ETIA numbers four and six, are 
significant because, as reported reftel, the units being 
trained make up the special, self-supporting task forces 
established by the Malian Ministry of Defense to target Al 
Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).  Ministry 
of Defense plans are to have three ETIAs fully trained, 
operational, and ready to be deployed to northern Mali by 
December 1.  The BILAT of ETIA number one and the JCETs for 
ETIA numbers four and six are a key component in the 
Ministry's plans to get those task forces in operational 
status.  Asked for an assessment on the capabilities of the 
ETIA to combat AQIM, one American military officer associated 
with the training indicated that while the ETIA is far from 
meeting American military standards, the men of the ETIA will 
fight when asked, and have the basic levels of competence 
required to perform the tasks anticipated of them. 
 
--------------------------- 
A Meeting with the Governor 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Following the BILAT closing ceremony, the Ambassador 
met with the Governor of Gao Region, Colonel Kalifa Keita. 
Almost immediately, the Governor directed the conversation to 
the subject of development assistance, emphasizing that, 
while the people of Gao are grateful for U.S. security 
assistance, aid could not stop there but must include 
assistance in the economic realm.  The Governor presented the 
Ambassador with a written list of three development projects 
in which he felt there was potential for U.S. involvement. 
Choosing one of these projects for illustration, the Governor 
discussed "irrigated perimeters" in agriculture, noting that 
although Burkina Faso and Mauritania had had great success in 
this irrigation technique, it has not been adequately 
utilized in Gao due to lack of funds for investment. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The President of the Gao Regional Assembly, Mohamed 
Ould Idriss, was also present at the meeting, and expressed 
the view that both the Malian government and foreign donors 
have it within their power to diminish the influence of 
traffickers and terrorists through involvement in regional 
development.  "If we don't occupy the terrain, the 
traffickers will occupy it," Idriss explained.  This and the 
Governor's remarks were consistent with President ATT's 
long-standing emphasis on security and development being two 
sides of the same coin and his desire to see increased 
development activity in the North to consolidate and 
reinforce any security gains. 
 
¶6. (U) The Ambassador began by noting that the United States 
 
BAMAKO 00000686  002 OF 002 
 
 
is Mali's largest provider of bilateral aid.  The Ambassador 
provided a brief overview of several USAID projects in the 
domains of education, agriculture, and health.  She 
emphasized that USG assistance is focused on building 
capacity rather than providing direct infrastructure 
development.  The Ambassador spoke of the fundamental link 
between development and security, noting that it is difficult 
to have one without the other.  While welcoming all 
suggestions for further American assistance, the Ambassador 
emphasized that the Malian government must take ownership of 
the projects that the United States has undertaken.  Citing 
as an example the multi-purpose building that the JCET team 
had refurbished on Gao's air base, the Ambassador alluded to 
the importance of the Malians taking responsibility for the 
maintenance of materials and projects initially provided by 
foreign aid.  To this the Governor indicated his complete 
agreement, and undertook a personal commitment to ensure the 
multi-purpose building in Gao would be maintained. 
 
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Comment 
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¶7. (U) The September 23 trip to Gao demonstrated clearly the 
range and appropriate focus of Embassy Bamako's mission 
objectives, and underscored the importance of viewing 
development and security efforts in Northern Mali as 
integrally linked and mutually reinforcing processes.  As the 
Ambassador emphasized to Governor Keita, the United States is 
an active partner in both areas, and if the Malian government 
does what is within its power to build upon the assistance it 
is offering, both Malian and American interests in the region 
will be advanced. 
 
 
MILOVANOVIC