Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANTANANARIVO1441
2006-12-26 10:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
SAMBI DEMANDS UNION FORCES ACCESS IN ANJOUAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3674 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHAN #1441 3601052 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 261052Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4091 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0776 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0013
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001441
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/E
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM CN
SUBJECT: SAMBI DEMANDS UNION FORCES ACCESS IN ANJOUAN
REF: ANTANANARIVO 1435
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001441
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/E
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM CN
SUBJECT: SAMBI DEMANDS UNION FORCES ACCESS IN ANJOUAN
REF: ANTANANARIVO 1435
1. (U) Comoran President Sambi held a rally in Mutsumudu, Anjouan,
on December 25 telling supporters he would not leave until Island
President Bacar authorized Union forces access at the sea port and
airport. Sambi called on Anjouan Island forces to turn in their
weapons to Union counterparts and insisted that Bacar's obstinacy
would cost him the upcoming election. Following the failure of
talks to delineate security responsibilities for Union and Island
forces, Sambi and Bacar have taken their mutual recriminations to
the Comoran public and international community (reftel). Island
President Bacar insists on an international force in Anjouan for the
upcoming election, arguing there would be "trouble" if Union and
Island forces were mixed.
2. (SBU) Police contacts reported that Bacar originally refused to
allow Sambi's plane to land in Anjouan, but later gave in. An
Embassy NGO contact in Anjouan said President Sambi had also
chartered a vessel to bring Union reinforcements from Grand Comore
to Anjouan. A tense calm prevails as rumors circulate the island
nation about impending "crisis."
3. (SBU) Abdallah Massoundi, First Counselor at the Comoran Embassy
in Antananarivo, told PolEcon Chief December 26 that Union President
Sambi and Anjouan Island President Bacar were currently in
negotiations to end the stand-off. Initially reluctant to meet
personally with Sambi, Bacar relented to discuss potential
solutions. EmbOffs have yet to reach Union or Island officials
present at these negotiations.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Sambi won easily in Anjouan during the April
primary and May national election; the December 25 rally served as a
reminder to Bacar that the Union President is far more popular than
he is. While powerful and effectively in control of his turf in
Anjouan, Bacar has little to his credit in terms of government
services or economic development. His frequent refrain that all of
Anjouan's woes are the fault of the Union government in Moroni
carries less and less weight with the Anjouanese. This is
particularly true when they see the charismatic President Sambi in
person, speaking eloquently about unity, Islamic values, and
development. END COMMENT.
McGee
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/E
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM CN
SUBJECT: SAMBI DEMANDS UNION FORCES ACCESS IN ANJOUAN
REF: ANTANANARIVO 1435
1. (U) Comoran President Sambi held a rally in Mutsumudu, Anjouan,
on December 25 telling supporters he would not leave until Island
President Bacar authorized Union forces access at the sea port and
airport. Sambi called on Anjouan Island forces to turn in their
weapons to Union counterparts and insisted that Bacar's obstinacy
would cost him the upcoming election. Following the failure of
talks to delineate security responsibilities for Union and Island
forces, Sambi and Bacar have taken their mutual recriminations to
the Comoran public and international community (reftel). Island
President Bacar insists on an international force in Anjouan for the
upcoming election, arguing there would be "trouble" if Union and
Island forces were mixed.
2. (SBU) Police contacts reported that Bacar originally refused to
allow Sambi's plane to land in Anjouan, but later gave in. An
Embassy NGO contact in Anjouan said President Sambi had also
chartered a vessel to bring Union reinforcements from Grand Comore
to Anjouan. A tense calm prevails as rumors circulate the island
nation about impending "crisis."
3. (SBU) Abdallah Massoundi, First Counselor at the Comoran Embassy
in Antananarivo, told PolEcon Chief December 26 that Union President
Sambi and Anjouan Island President Bacar were currently in
negotiations to end the stand-off. Initially reluctant to meet
personally with Sambi, Bacar relented to discuss potential
solutions. EmbOffs have yet to reach Union or Island officials
present at these negotiations.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Sambi won easily in Anjouan during the April
primary and May national election; the December 25 rally served as a
reminder to Bacar that the Union President is far more popular than
he is. While powerful and effectively in control of his turf in
Anjouan, Bacar has little to his credit in terms of government
services or economic development. His frequent refrain that all of
Anjouan's woes are the fault of the Union government in Moroni
carries less and less weight with the Anjouanese. This is
particularly true when they see the charismatic President Sambi in
person, speaking eloquently about unity, Islamic values, and
development. END COMMENT.
McGee