SAMBI WANTS INTERNATIONAL HELP TO END SECURITY "CRISIS"

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001435

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/E
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM CN
SUBJECT: SAMBI WANTS INTERNATIONAL HELP TO END SECURITY "CRISIS"

REF: ANTANANARIVO 1410


1. (U) Comoran President Sambi met the diplomatic corps in Moroni to
request international assistance to end the stand-off between the
Union and Island Governments over division of security
responsibilities (reftel). Media reports indicate Union officials
want Island forces to be armed with police and riot gear (shields,
batons, handcuffs),rather than military weaponry. This
long-pending issue is coming to a head before the expected
March/April Island President elections, when all parties would like
to assure security is maintained.


2. (U) The background lies in the peace agreement and new
constitution which were brokered to end the crisis after Anjouan
seceded in 1999. In addition to the rotating Union Presidency, now
held by Anjouan-born Sambi, compromises were reached to postpone
decisions on Comoran federalism. The Union National Assembly passed
legislation in 2005 to implement separation of security
responsibilities, but former President Azali never signed it into
law.


3. (SBU) Abdallah Massoundi, First Counselor at the Comoran Embassy
in Antananarivo, told the RSO December 21 that all was quiet in the
Comoros for now, but significant problems remained unresolved.
Massoundi said President Sambi is intent on sending Union troops to
the Islands to monitor the upcoming elections, but the Island
Presidents -- especially Bacar in Anjouan -- demand an
international force. President Bacar argues that mixing Union and
Island forces would "create further problems" according to
Massoundi.


4. (SBU) Tracts and talk circulating on Anjouan and Grand Comore
again focus on "secession;" the trump card of Comoran politics.
Some Anjouanese separatist politicians view Sambi's move last
weekend as a threat. A student group in Grand Comore agreed, and
called on the Union and Grand Comore governments to avoid actions
that threaten the Union.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: While Comoros faces no traditional external
threat, the Union Army plays a symbolic role and in theory prevents
secession. Anjouan Island President Bacar's refusal to allow Union
troops to enter highlights the real danger of inter-island conflict.
Post infers that Bacar perceived an erosion of his power and
potential interference in his conduct of the election. We have not
heard that any international actor is prepared to become involved in
this Union/Island dispute, although South Africa and Mauritius - who
helped to broker the earlier constitutional compromise - may feel
some pressure to help preserve their hard-won, if unstable,
accomplishment. END COMMENT.

MCGEE