THE GAMBIA: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ON AFTERMATH OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000212

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DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS CASC ASEC PHUM KMCA GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ON AFTERMATH OF
COUP ATTEMPT, MCA, SENEGAL

REF: A. BANJUL 206 AND PREVIOUS

B. BANJUL 209

C. BANJUL 190

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Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) In April 6 meeting with senior presidential adviser,
Secretary General Njie, Ambassador reiterated our concern

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over reports of detainees' mistreatment, detention of
National Assembly Speaker and others, and private newspaper's
closure in connection with the recent aborted coup attempt.
He repeated our request for consular access to Amcit detainee
Tamsir Jasseh. Njie took note of our concerns, denied any
GOTG intention to crack down on opposition parties, and
undertook to work to get us access to Jasseh. Ambassador
also registered concern over GOTG's slippage in performance
on criteria for MCA eligibility. On Senegal, Njie said the
GOTG awaited a full explanation from the GOS as to its
knowledge and actions prior to the coup plot's discovery;
when Ambassador stressed need for restraint so as to avoid
escalation of tensions with GOS, Njie said the GOTG
recognized this and would act accordingly. The reported
detention of the Speaker, the country's number-three
official, is particularly noteworthy. END SUMMARY.

AFTERMATH OF COUP
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2. (C) Ambassador met April 6 with senior presidential
advisor, Secretary General Mambury Njie, reiterating U.S.
opposition to any attempt to change governments via
unconstitutional means such as the aborted coup attempt here
March 21 (ref a). At the same time, Ambassador noted our
concern over reports of beatings of detainees suspected of
involvement in the plot and repeated our request for access
to Amcit detainee Tamsir Jasseh. He also noted reports of
authorities continuing to pick up suspects, saying we were
informed of the April 5-6 detention of the National Assembly
Speaker, Sherif Dibba, and detained Amcit Tamsir Jasseh's
lawyer, Mary Ann Denton, who is affiliated with the
opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). (NOTE: We
subsequently learned of the detention of several officials
with the National Intelligence Agency, including newly
appointed Deputy Director General Ngor Secka. END NOTE)
Referring to the recent closure of the private journal, "The
Independent," and detention of its general manager and its
editor-in-chief, Ambassador added that we would also be
concerned were the GOTG to use the failed coup plot as a
pretext to crack down on the opposition parties or critics
generally. With The Gambia scheduled to host the AU Summit
within a few months, he added, the GOTG could hardly afford
to isolate itself with such a crackdown.


3. (C) In response, Njie denied any plan by the GOTG for a
crackdown on the opposition parties or others. He said he
would work on getting us access to Jasseh and stated that the
GOTG's objective was to investigate suspects as promptly as
possibly and release those cleared of involvement, noting the
release of 17 persons so far (ref a). Asserting GOTG's
recognition of need for proper treatment of detainees, Njie
said he had not been aware of cases of beatings and undertook
to raise the matter with the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Col
Lang Tombong Tamba, who, according to Njie, was in charge of
the ongoing investigation into the failed plot. Njie stated
that he would also raise with Tamba the reported detentions
of the National Assembly Speaker and others. He undertook to
look into the closure of "The Independent."

MILLENIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT
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4. (C) Ambassador mentioned GOTG officials' participation in
the recent "MCC University" program in Washington and meeting
with AF DAS Linda Thomas-Greenfield. He shared his
impression that the discussions had been open and frank and
that U.S. officials had pointed to worrisome signs of
slippage in the GOTG's performance on the criteria,
particularly in the areas of "ruling justly" and "economic
freedom," used to determine MCA eligibility. Pointing out
that MCA eligibilty had to be renewed annually, Ambassador
stated that the GOTG needed to be prepared to discuss its
performance during the upcoming MCC visit here and that the
Embassy also wished to stay in close touch with the GOTG on
this dossier. Njie responded that he had yet to receive a
detailed readout from the GOTG's participants in the MCC

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program, but stated that they as well as the Gambian
Ambassador in Washington had informed him of our concern over
the slippage in the GOTG's performance.

SENEGAL
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5. (C) Referring to President Jammeh's message to President
Bush on Dakar's alleged involvement in the failed coup plot
(ref b),Ambassador asked Njie if the GOTG had concrete
evidence of such involvement; Njie replied that the evidence
consisted of references in the televised confessions of
suspects here to a Senegalese hand (ref c) and Dakar's
initial silence when the coup plot was uncovered. When
Ambassador noted the GOS statement condemning the coup, Njie
stated that the GOS had made the statement only after
prodding by the GOTG envoys sent to Dakar. Following the
envoys' visit, Njie continued, the GOTG still awaited a full
explanation by the GOS as to its knowledge and actions in
advance of the coup plot's discovery. Ambassador stressed
need for restraint as the GOTG pursued the matter with the
GOS, noting that an escalation of tensions would not serve
the interest of either side; Njie responded that the GOTG
recognized this and would do its part to keep the issue from
degenerating into a new crisis with its neighbor.

COMMENT
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6. (C) The detention of so senior an official as the National
Assembly Speaker -- affiliated with a political party in
alliance with the ruling APRC party -- is particularly
noteworthy; the reasons for his and the other April 5-6
detentions are as yet unknown. Despite Mary Ann Denton's
opposition UDP party affiliation, at this point we see her
detention as linked to her status as Amcit Jasseh's lawyer
rather than to her opposition party membership; according to
a knowledgeable source, authorities took her into custody to
question her about Jasseh's comments to her about the coup
plot prior to his being picked up. Regarding possible
Senegalese implication in the failed plot, Njie indicated
GOTG's awareness that it remained fully occupied with its
investigation of domestic involvement and hence could ill
afford also to become enmeshed in a crisis with Dakar by
pushing its far more powerful neighbor too hard on its
alleged role. END COMMENT.



STAFFORD