Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUJA666
2006-03-24 12:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
ECOWAS LOOKING AT ROLE IN NIGER DELTA
how-toVZCZCXRO0719 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0666 0831233 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241233Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5022 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0437 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 3672 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000666
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS LOOKING AT ROLE IN NIGER DELTA
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000666
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS LOOKING AT ROLE IN NIGER DELTA
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on March 21, the
Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas,
suggested a possible entry for ECOWAS involvement in Niger
Delta conflict mediation. Chambas believes the negative
impact of the violence on natural gas supply to the West
African Gas Pipeline (WAGP),the "starship project" of
ECOWAS, has the potential to be felt throughout the
subregion. This potential could be enough to convince the
Council of Elders (due to be in inaugurated in Niamey the
week of 27 March) to become involved in "mediation".
2. (C) When the Deputy Director of the Observation and
Monitoring Center (OMC),the ECOWAS office charged with early
warning of conflicts, was asked about their attention to the
Delta, the answer was disappointing. Reporting on Nigeria is
coordinated from the OMC's regional office in Cotonou (Note:
the OMC has 4 regional bureaus: Cotonou, Monrovia,
Ouagadougou, and Banjul),and has no human network in
Nigeria. ECOWAS, he said, has traditionally been reluctant
to become involved in Nigerian politics and remains so. The
Delta has been mentioned in daily OMC reporting, but only as
a summary of open source materials.
3. (C) Comment. Chambas will likely remain reluctant to
engage Nigeria, but may begin quiet, back-channel discussions
about a role for ECOWAS. In fact, the new DES-PADS, Colonel
Toure, tells us this has already started. The involvement of
a neutral mediator from outside of Nigeria, could be a
positive step, depending on how events unfold.
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: EPET PGOV ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS LOOKING AT ROLE IN NIGER DELTA
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on March 21, the
Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas,
suggested a possible entry for ECOWAS involvement in Niger
Delta conflict mediation. Chambas believes the negative
impact of the violence on natural gas supply to the West
African Gas Pipeline (WAGP),the "starship project" of
ECOWAS, has the potential to be felt throughout the
subregion. This potential could be enough to convince the
Council of Elders (due to be in inaugurated in Niamey the
week of 27 March) to become involved in "mediation".
2. (C) When the Deputy Director of the Observation and
Monitoring Center (OMC),the ECOWAS office charged with early
warning of conflicts, was asked about their attention to the
Delta, the answer was disappointing. Reporting on Nigeria is
coordinated from the OMC's regional office in Cotonou (Note:
the OMC has 4 regional bureaus: Cotonou, Monrovia,
Ouagadougou, and Banjul),and has no human network in
Nigeria. ECOWAS, he said, has traditionally been reluctant
to become involved in Nigerian politics and remains so. The
Delta has been mentioned in daily OMC reporting, but only as
a summary of open source materials.
3. (C) Comment. Chambas will likely remain reluctant to
engage Nigeria, but may begin quiet, back-channel discussions
about a role for ECOWAS. In fact, the new DES-PADS, Colonel
Toure, tells us this has already started. The involvement of
a neutral mediator from outside of Nigeria, could be a
positive step, depending on how events unfold.
CAMPBELL