Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANJUL227
2006-04-13 15:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA; VISIT BY SENEGALESE FORMIN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINS GA SG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2721
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0227 1031537
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 131537Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6568
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000227 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA; VISIT BY SENEGALESE FORMIN

REF: A. BANJUL 222 AND PREVIOUS


B. DAKAR 898

C. BANJUL 190

D. BANJUL 121

E. BANJUL 209

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

VISIT BY SENEGALESE FORMIN
---------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000227

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA; VISIT BY SENEGALESE FORMIN

REF: A. BANJUL 222 AND PREVIOUS


B. DAKAR 898

C. BANJUL 190

D. BANJUL 121

E. BANJUL 209

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

VISIT BY SENEGALESE FORMIN
--------------


1. (SBU) Senegalese Formin Cheikh Tidiane Gadio visited
Banjul April 12 and met with President Jammeh, telling the
press afterward that he had brought a message of
"solidarity" from President Wade to Jammeh following the coup
plot thwarted here March 21 (refs a and b). Gadio took the
occasion to reiterate Dakar's condemnation of the failed plot
and denied that the GOS was involved in any way. Rebutting
reports that Senegalese authorities had picked up ringleader
Lt Col Ndure Cham, Gadio indicated that Senegalese
authorities would detain any of the coup plotters seeking
refuge in Senegalese territory, but that they had yet to find
any in their searching so far.

GAMBIAN READOUT
--------------


2. (C) In April 12 discussion with Ambassador (other topics
covered septels),Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary William
Joof said that Wade's good will message to Jammeh conveyed by
Gadio had failed to dispel the GOTG's suspicions, based on
allegations by detained coup plotters in their confessions
(ref c),regarding possible Senegalese complicity in the
plot. According to Joof, in the April 12 meeting, Jammeh
requested of Gadio further details of Senegalese authorities'
knowledge and actions surrounding the failed overthrow
attempt in order to dismiss detainees' allegations. Joof
stated that Jammeh also complained to Gadio about the
recently recalled Senegalese Ambassador here, Ndiouga Ndiaye,
protesting his "clandestine meeting" with a leading figure
in the plot, Tamsir Jasseh, as revealed by the latter in his
televised confession (ref d).

BILATERAL PROJECTS TO GO FORWARD
--------------


3. (C) Permanent Secretary Joof assured Ambassador that the
GOTG recognized the imperative of pursuing its concerns with
the GOS over the failed plot through dialog and to prevent an
unraveling of the two sides' rapprochement in past months.
Joof stated that the GOTG notwithstanding its unresolved
suspicions, would continue its cooperation with the GOS on
such vital projects as re-establishment of the joint
Permanent Secretariat and construction of a bridge across the
Gambia River (ref c).

COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) Following Jammeh's anti-Wade diatribe in his recent
message to President Bush (ref e),the extent of fallout on
Gambian/Senegalese cooperation on key projects from the
GOTG's suspicions toward Dakar remains to be seen -- Joof's
assurances of the GOTG's intention to move forward
notwithstanding. To our knowledge, plot ringleader Cham
remains at large and possibly in Senegal; Jammeh will
doubtless regard the extent of GOS efforts to locate him and,
if found in Senegal, to hand him over to Gambian authorities
as a key test of Senegalese intentions. END COMMENT.
STAFFORD