NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OBASANJO'S BRIEF, UNANNOUNCED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001390

SIPDIS

PARIS, LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS NI KE ET DJ SO
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OBASANJO'S BRIEF, UNANNOUNCED
VISIT TO DJIBOUTI


Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Nigerian President Olesugun Obasanjo made a brief,
unannounced visit to Djibouti 30 October while en route to
Japan. The government run newspaper La Nation reported on 1
November that during his time in Djibouti, Obasanjo met with
President Ismail Omar Guelleh at the Djiboutian head of
state's private residence. According to La Nation the two
Presidents discussed Somalia, Darfur, southern Sudan, and the
request for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia.


2. (U) On the issue of Somalia and the request for
peacekeepers by newly elected President Abdillahi Youssouf,
both Guelleh and Obasanjo reportedly expressed the desire to
send their nations' troops to Somalia as part of a contingent
of peacekeepers. Both also shared the same views regarding
other support that might be needed by the new Somalian
government. La Nation commented that this was the same
process carried out after the 2000 peace conference in Arta,
Djibouti but the international community at that time did not
follow up.


3. (U) La Nation reported that the two presidents also
discussed Darfur and North-South Sudan talks underway in
Kenya. No details were provided but the upcoming United
Nation Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Darfur to take
place in Kenya, was noted.


4. (C) Working level contacts in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs told Embassy Political Assistant several nominal
details. The Obasanjo's visit was merely the length of his
layover in Djibouti while waiting to fly to Japan.
Originally, Guelleh was to meet Obasanjo in the VIP lounge at
the airport but Guelleh requested discussions take place at
his private residence not far from the airport. Sources also
say the two Presidents discussed from where the funding for
peacekeepers would come. Regarding peacekeepers, the same
source commented that since Ethiopia volunteered to send
troops to Somalia, Djibouti would do the same. The general
impression in Djibouti, as commented by one source, is that
if one of the three countries on the frontlines with Somalia
(Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti) is in, the other two will send
troops.


5. (U) Ambassador will seek more information from Ministry
officials to elaborate on the topics discussed and
corroborate information given by unofficial contacts at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
RAGSDALE