THE GAMBIA: PREPARATIONS FOR AU SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000169 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV GA AU SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: PREPARATIONS FOR AU SUMMIT REF: A. 05 BANJUL 78 ¶B. BANJUL 166 (ALL NOTAL) Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The GOTG's preparations so far to host the "midterm" AU summit in July have been haphazard, although a visiting AU Commission delegation publicly portrayed those preparations as well in hand. The extent of foreign assistance to cover summit-related expenses is unclear. President Jammeh's goal is to have a minimum of ten fellow heads of state show up for the event, according to well-informed source. At this point, we share the view that the GOTG will go ahead and host the summit in July, given Jammeh's determination to seize this opportunity to cast himself as a well-established, respected African leader. END SUMMARY. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At the January 2005 African Union (AU) summit, The Gambia was selected to host the AU's "midterm" in July 2006. The decision was greeted with surprise among numerous Gambian and other contacts, who privately expressed skepticism about the GOTG's capacity to manage what would be the largest such high-level event ever held in The Gambia. Defying the doubters, the GOTG wasted no time in approaching donors for help, financial and otherwise, with summit preparations (ref a),as in his pronouncements President Jammeh portrayed hosting the upcoming summit as a major achievement in the GOTG's Africa diplomacy. SUMMIT PREPARATIONS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) With the summit only four months away, the GOTG's preparations to date have been haphazard, to say the least. The office established to oversee summit arrangements has shown little sign of activity to date. There is uncertainty as to whether construction of the principal summit venue -- a Sheraton-run conference center -- will be completed in time; the associated hotel complex will definitely not be ready. An AU Commission delegation, headed by Director of Conference Services Assoul Boubakar, visited Banjul March 5-9, ostensibly to assess the state of the GOTG's summit preparations. In his public pronouncements, he gave the perfunctory assurances that the GOTG's summit preparations were well in hand, but gave few details. According to media reports, the delegation signed an "agreement" with the GOTG to finalize its hosting of the summit. FINANCING THE SUMMIT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The extent to which the GOTG has lined up foreign assistance to cover summit requirements is unclear; officials are notably reluctant to discuss the matter. Past months have witnessed ever more frequent travel by the Finance and Foreign Ministers, in particular; the GOTG indicates that solicitation of summit-related aid is among the agenda items for these trips, but will not elaborate. The GOTG also continues to approach donors locally; in recent conversation with Ambassador, the Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary made a request for non-lethal security-related equipment (e.g., metal detectors) for the summit. Meanwhile, as reported ref b, the IMF remains concerned about the possibility of the GOTG facing budget-busting summit-related expenses and hence plans to hold off on negotiating a PRGF with the GOTG until after the summit. ATTENDANCE AT SUMMIT -------------- ¶5. (C) In recent conversation with Ambassador, a well-informed media contact said he fully expected the summit to be held here as scheduled in July, despite what he acknowledged were the GOTG's meager capabilities and resources. Jammeh, according to the contact, was determined to host the summit, as he viewed it as a crucial opportunity to display credentials as a well-established leader of a country, that, although small, nonetheless plays a significant regional role. The source judged that Jammeh's goal was to have a minimum of ten heads of state show up for the summit. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) At this point, our expectation is that the GOTG will BANJUL 00000169 002 OF 002 host the summit as scheduled, despite its limited capacity and lackluster preparations to date. We share the view that Jammeh will remain insistent on going ahead with the event here, given his craving for recognition as a respected African leader. Of course, an only minimal showing by fellow African heads of state would likely do little to enhance his regional stature. END COMMENT. . STAFFORD