Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANJUL169
2006-03-18 13:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: PREPARATIONS FOR AU SUMMIT

Tags:  PREL PGOV GA AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHMR RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0169/01 0771351
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 181351Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6491
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0261
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
--------

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