VZCZCXRO0339
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHRN RUEHROV
DE RUEHSA #3297/01 2611101
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181101Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1810
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1298
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1158
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0192
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 4835
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 9165
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 003297
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/S
DEPT PASS TO USAID/AFR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SU SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA PLANS TO EXPAND SUDAN TRAINING PROGRAM
REF: A. 05 PRETORIA 3007
B. TRENKLE-TARIOT EMAIL OF 9/14/07
C. 05 PRETORIA 4136
PRETORIA 00003297 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. South Africa expects to expand its
ambitious program to train officials from southern Sudan.
Begun in 2005, the program has brought more than 700
officials from Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to South
Africa for classroom and practical training in fields as
diverse as local government finances to diplomacy. Costing
the SAG USD 2.35 million, this program is but one example of
South Africa's emerging role as a donor in Africa and as a
regional strategic policy leader in continental conflict
resolution. Post will contribute USD 150,000 in bilateral
development assistance to the SAG program in FY 2007. We
believe these types of programs will reinforce USG-SAG
cooperation on regional issues. Helping the South Africans
to build capacity in their foreign assistance programs also
serves U.S. long-term interests in Africa. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------
Ambitious Training Program
--------------------------
2. (SBU) Since 2005, the South African Government (SAG) has
undertaken an ambitious and wide-ranging capacity building
program for officials and leaders from the Government of
Southern Sudan (GOSS). The SAG just completed its thirteenth
training session for GOSS officials, and plans two more
sessions before the end of 2007. The standard training model
is for the University of South Africa (UNISA) to provide two
to three weeks of "theoretical" training in Pretoria,
followed by a two week "practical" internship working inside
a SAG governmental department. The U.S. Embassy hosted a
group of southern Sudanese diplomats in June 2005 for one day
during a training session on diplomacy and international
relations (ref A).
3. (SBU) The training has covered a range of topics,
including: governance and leadership, public administration,
diplomacy, communications, finance, judicial services,
correctional and police services, intergovernmental
coordination, and local government management. While
initially concentrated on Government of National Unity (GNU)
and GOSS level leaders, the program has focused increasingly
on state and county level officials. More than 700 officials
have taken part in the training. To date, the SAG has
self-funded the training at a cost of approximately Rand
16.45 million or approximately USD 2.35 million. The program
coordinator on the GOSS side is the Ministry of Regional
Cooperation.
4. (SBU) A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) delegation,
led by Office Director Graham Maitland, is visiting Juba the
week of September 17 (ref B) to examine the effectiveness of
the program and plan future activities for 2008 - 2011.
According to Phindile Xaba, DFA Deputy Director for the Horn
of Africa, President Mbeki supports the program and is
committed to its continuation, even expansion. Xaba noted
that the SAG would like to move some of the training to
southern Sudan, where they could train more officials at a
lower cost.
-------------------
GOSS to Open Office
-------------------
5. (SBU) The Government of Southern Sudan strongly supports
the SAG training program, according to John G. Nyuot Yoh, who
heads the GOSS representation in South Africa. Yoh said that
GOSS believes the program has been effective and should be
expanded. Yoh is finalizing preparations to open a GOSS
"liaison office" in Pretoria by the end of September. The
office will be located in the Hatfield neighborhood at 440
Fehrsen Street, and will be headed by Yoh. (BIO NOTE: Yoh is
a lecturer at the University of South Africa in the
Department of Political Science, but is taking a two-year
leave of absence to open the GOSS office. END NOTE.)
------------------------
PRETORIA 00003297 002.2 OF 002
U.S. Support and Comment
------------------------
6. (SBU) We believe helping the South Africans to build
capacity in their foreign assistance programs serves U.S.
long-term interests in Africa. While still a recipient of
foreign aid, South Africa is emerging as a donor in its own
right in Africa (ref C) and as a regional strategic policy
leader in continental conflict resolution. The SAG has
entered into a series of agreements with other OECD donors,
some multi-million dollar programs over several years, for
programs in DRC, Sudan, Burundi, and Rwanda. The SAG terms
these programs "trilateral agreements," reflecting the
partnership between the SAG, the donor, and the recipient
country.
7. (SBU) At the request of DFA, the U.S. Mission will provide
USD 150,000 in bilateral development assistance to the SAG in
FY 2007 to support the GOSS-DFA-UNISA program. (NOTE: Post
is also providing USD 150,000 to the SAG Department of
Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) for a local government
program in the DRC. END NOTE.) In addition to its impact in
southern Sudan, we believe the program offers an opportunity
to reinforce shared U.S.-South African interests on the
continent and deepen cooperation on regional issues.
Bost