MGIV01: NIGERIAN OUTLOOK ON COTE D'IVOIRE

S E C R E T ABUJA 002752

SIPDIS


LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY


NOFORN


E.O.12598:DECL: 09/27/12
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINS IV NI
SUBJECT: MGIV01: NIGERIAN OUTLOOK ON COTE D'IVOIRE

REF: STATE 1835335


CLASSIFIED BY DCM ANDREWS. REASONS 1.5 (B) and (D).



1. (C) On September 25, DCM delivered reftel points to
National Security Advisor Aliyu Mohammed and PolCouns
carried the same message to the Presidential
International Affairs Advisor Ad'Obe Obe. Both
officials confirmed Nigeria did not favor a resort to
force and endorsed a negotiated resolution of the
impasse.



2. (S/NF) NSA Mohammed expressed concern about reports
of the Gbagbo government harassment of opposition
parties and figures, including Bedie and Ouattara. The
NSA advised President Obasanjo to urge Gbagbo to stop
the harassment before it generated further
instability. He added that the senior-level GON
military delegation had returned from Abidjan and had
provided their assessment. Mohammed acknowledged
Nigeria would send five Alpha jets to Cote d'Ivoire
based on a request for assistance from the Gbagbo
government. However, Mohammed stressed Nigeria would
only deploy ground troops under ECOWAS aegis. Note:
The GON eventually sent three Alpha jets and two
attack helicopters to Cote d' Ivoire, according to
information acquired through DOD sources. End Note.



3. (C) Presidential Advisor Obe underscored GON
concern that the situation be resolved peacefully but
relatively quickly. With accusing Ivoirien fingers
already pointing at Burkina Faso, a protracted impasse
with the rebels would only increase tension between
the two countries and foment more xenophobia and
harassment of opposition figures within Cote d'Ivoire.
Fearing that Gbagbo militants had taken the failed
putsch as a license to target his opponents, many
people have gone into hiding, with Ouattara allegedly
finding respite in the French Ambassador's residence.



4. (C) On September 26, the ECOWAS Executive
Secretary's Military Advisor, Colonel Dixon Dikio,

SIPDIS
told PolCouns that Executive Secretary Chambas had
gone to Abidjan and Ouagadougou on a fact-finding
mission. He expected Chambas to return to Abuja
September 27. Dikio also stated that the emergency
ECOWAS Summit on Cote d'Ivoire had been pushed back to
October 5 vice September 28.


Jeter