COTE D'IVOIRE: GOVERNMENT RESIGNS OVER ILLEGAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000997

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: GOVERNMENT RESIGNS OVER ILLEGAL
TOXIC WASTE DUMP SCANDAL


1. (U) On September 6, Prime Minister Banny publicly
submitted the resignation of his government and President
Gbagbo publicly accepted it. Banny said that he felt obliged
to resign because of mounting public anger over the illegal
dumping of toxic wastes at several sites around Abidjan. The
wastes came from a foreign ship that docked at the port of
Abidjan (septel). After several days of mounting public
protests, on September 7 street barricades paralyzed much of
Abidjan, and the government held an emergency cabinet meeting
to deal with the crisis. Banny announced his government's
resignation immediately after this cabinet meeting.


2. (C) Shortly after the resignation was announced, Leon
Koffi, one of his principal advisors, told the Ambassador
that Banny's real objective was to use this opportunity to
strengthen his control over the government, and that Banny
plans to reconstitute essentially the same cabinet minus the
Ministers of Transport and Environment and perhaps a few
others who bore responsibility for the illegal toxic waste
dumping.


3. (U) Banny's resignation came against the backdrop of the
failure of the September 6 meeting of Cote d'Ivoire's five
principal political leaders in Yamoussoukro. Coming out of
that meeting, President Gbagbo made no comment to reporters.
Former President Bedie, leader of the opposition PDCI
(Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire),said it had yielded a
"meager harvest" and that the Prime Minister needed to
continue consultations with the other leaders. Former Prime
Minister Ouattara, leader of the opposition RDR (Rally of
Republicans),reiterated the opposition's demand that there
must be expedited procedures for everyone who is entitled to
an Ivoirian certificate of nationality to get one within two
or three months. Sidiki Konate, spokesman for rebel FN (New
Forces) leader Soro, also said no agreement had been reached
on the key issue of identification procedures.


4. (C) Comment. It should not be too difficult for Banny to
reconstitute a new government with limited changes. However,
it is not clear how a cabinet reshuffle would strengthen the
Prime Minister's authority or facilitate his ability to
revitalize the peace process. End Comment.
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