Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANTANANARIVO570
2006-05-31 13:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

U.S. MEETS COMOROS' NEW LEADERSHIP

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM OVIP ECON CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHAN #0570/01 1511342
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311342Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2887
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0657
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0041
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 0034
RUEHPL/AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS 0197
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA CAMP LEMONIER
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J2X/J4/J5//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANTANANARIVO 000570 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR AF/E
DEPT PASS USAID FOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNSELOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM OVIP ECON CN
SUBJECT: U.S. MEETS COMOROS' NEW LEADERSHIP

REF: A) ANTANANARIVO 519;
b) ANTANANARIVO 473 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANTANANARIVO 000570

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR AF/E
DEPT PASS USAID FOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNSELOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM OVIP ECON CN
SUBJECT: U.S. MEETS COMOROS' NEW LEADERSHIP

REF: A) ANTANANARIVO 519;
b) ANTANANARIVO 473 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) This cable is the second of a three-part cable.
The first describes the inauguration of President Sambi,
attended by the U.S. Presidential Delegation. This cable
describes the Delegation's meetings with and assessment of
the new government. The third cable provides suggestions
for U.S. policy toward the new government of the Union of
the Comoros.


2. (U) SUMMARY. A U.S. Presidential Delegation attended
the May 26 inauguration of Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi as
President of the Union of the Comoros. Following the
inauguration Sambi and some of his top advisors met with the
U.S. officials and conveyed their desire for friendly
relations with the United States as well as a willingness to
continue cooperating in the war on terror. They listened
carefully to suggestions for launching their new government
and requested assistance in doing so. The new government
has only six ministers, a remarkable slimming down from the
previous government's fourteen. Significantly, given the
President's reputation as a conservative Muslim, one of the
six ministers is a woman. END SUMMARY.


3. (U) The week after his decisive electoral victory
(reftels),Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was officially
inaugurated as Comoran President in a festive ceremony May
26 (septel). The peaceful and democratic transfer of power
from former President Azali to President Sambi was the first
in Comoros' 31-year history. A Presidential Delegation led
by USAID Deputy Director Frederick W. Schieck, including
USAID Counselor Mosina Jordan and Ambassador James D. McGee,
attended the inauguration and associated events. The U.S.
presence was enhanced by the attendance of Rear Admiral
Richard W. Hunt, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force
- Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and his staff, and EmbOffs.

President Sambi Receives Presidential Delegation
-------------- ---


4. (SBU) An energetic and warm President Sambi spent a full

hour with Delegation Head Schieck and Counselor Jordan May

27. Sambi clearly appreciated the significance of the
Delegation's presence and gratefully accepted the gift from
the White House, noting it was "historic" as the first gift
he had received from a President. He reiterated his desire
for continued friendship with the United States, asking for
help to prove democracy and independence in Comoros will
lead to prosperity.


5. (SBU) In response to Schieck's request for continued
support in the fight against terrorism, President Sambi
stated firmly, "I am on your side." Sambi added that
poverty is the enemy, even with the moderate and peaceful
Comorans because, "sometimes desperate people can be
convinced to do things." He requested development
assistance so he could alleviate his peoples' suffering and
eliminate the potential for such tragic consequences.


6. (SBU) Sambi further elaborated that, as a theologian who
had spent time many years ago in Sudan, Iran, and Saudi
Arabia, he understood the danger of radical ideology. He
stated he would never allow schools teaching hate or
intolerance to operate in the Comoros.

Hungry For Advice: Senior Advisor at Dinner
--------------


7. (SBU) President Sambi sent his advisor, Ombad Morhan, to
join the Delegation for dinner May 27 to explore in more
detail the new government's program. Morhan emphasized near-
term challenges, like organizing national exams in June.
This is a problem because unpaid teachers in Grand Comore
are still on strike, and the new government is anxious to
avoid yet another lost school year. He added that the
government would audit government accounts and assess

ANTANANARI 00000570 002 OF 003


egregious cases of corruption in the coming two weeks.
Judicial reform would begin with transparency, by holding
former officials accountable, and by taking on graft of
magistrates. He acknowledged that Sambi's somewhat
aggressive plan will require substantial and immediate
technical support to succeed.


8. (SBU) After outlining a few top priorities and
challenges, Morhan switched to listening mode, feverishly
taking notes for 90 minutes while Schieck and Jordan offered
advice on engaging donors, establishing credibility, and
getting the government running. An exhausted and visibly
exhilarated Morhan took careful note of advice that the new
government should engage the World Bank, request an audit,
follow up on the December Port Louis donor's conference with
co-hosts Mauritius and South Africa, and above all create a
credible work plan with concrete activities that partner
nations can support.


9. (SBU) Sambi was chosen as a national candidate through
the primary in Anjouan, in a constitutional system designed
to rotate the Presidency among the three islands of the
Comoros. Nonetheless, Morhan confirmed that Sambi's
government would reside permanently in Moroni, the Union
capital on the island of Grand Comore. Morhan added that
Sambi's wife would remain with their children in Anjouan
where she had been running the family businesses since her
husband announced his candidacy.

Pull-Aside with CJTF-HOA Admiral Hunt
--------------


10. (SBU) Eager to meet the U.S. delegation, President
Sambi separately set time for a pull-aside with Rear Admiral
Hunt late the evening of May 26. Sambi confirmed his
willingness for continued cooperation with the United States
on security, and took particular interest in the upcoming
international maritime conference to be held in Antananarivo
in July. The President also welcomed Admiral Hunt's offer
for a team to come to the Comoros to repair schools or
clinics on a humanitarian mission.

Sambi Names Cabinet of Six; Including a Woman
--------------


11. (U) Wasting no time following the inauguration,
President Sambi announced his cabinet May 29. In contrast
to the 14 ministers and 40 advisors that former President
Azali had on his payroll, Sambi named just six of each, with
his Chief of Staff and two Vice-Presidents - one from each
of the "non-presidential" islands -- also taking on
ministerial assignments. Significantly, given the pre-
election claims by his opponents that Sambi would prove an
Islamic "extremist," one of the six ministers in his Cabinet
is a woman.


12. (U) The Ministers are as follows:

-- Idi Nadhoim, Sambi's Vice President from Grand Comore,
will also be Minister of Transportation, Posts and
Communications, Telecommunications, and Tourism;
-- Ikililou Dhoinine, Sambi's Vice-President from Moheli,
will have the Health portfolio as well as Solidarity and
Gender Empowerment;
-- Mohamed Abdoulwahabi, Sambi's Chief of Staff and
reportedly a close confidant, will have the Defense
portfolio;
-- Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar, Foreign Minister and Minister of
Cooperation, who will also have charge of the Comoran
diaspora;
-- Hassan Hamadi who will have the portfolios of Finance,
Budget, the Economy, Planning, and Labor (employment
generation);
-- M'Madi Ali, in charge of Public Administration,
Administrative Reforms and Prisons;
-- Nailane Mhadji, has Energy, Land Management,
Urbanization and Housing;

ANTANANARI 00000570 003 OF 003


-- Abdourahim Said Bacar, who will also serve as Government
Spokesman, has Education, Research, Youth and Sports, Arts
and Culture;
-- Siti Kassim, the lone woman in the Cabinet, will be
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, Handicrafts,
and the Environment.


13. (SBU) COMMENT. It is far too early to draw definite
conclusions about the Sambi Administration, however the
early signs are positive. He is seeking to fulfill his
promise of a leaner and clear regime and we have been told
that his selections have a reputation for competence and
professionalism. We have heard also that he has cut in half
the President's salary in a move that may not be so
difficult for a relatively wealthy businessman, but that
will certainly enhance his popularity. Most importantly, in
his meetings he sent a clear signal of his desire for good
relations with - and assistance from - the United States.
END COMMENT.


14. (U) Deputy Administrator Schieck and Counselor Jordan
cleared on the general substance of this message before
their departure from Comoros.

MCGEE