Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANJUL230
2006-04-14 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: GROWING TENSIONS WITH SENEGAL OVER

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINS GA SG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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O 141425Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6571
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0268
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0060
RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANJUL 000230 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: GROWING TENSIONS WITH SENEGAL OVER
FOILED COUP PLOT

REF: A. BANJUL 227


B. BANJUL 222 ET AL

C. DAKAR 898

D. BANJUL 190

E. 03 BANJUL 314 ET AL

F. BANJUL 190 (ALL NOTAL)

BANJUL 00000230 001.2 OF 003


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANJUL 000230

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: GROWING TENSIONS WITH SENEGAL OVER
FOILED COUP PLOT

REF: A. BANJUL 227


B. BANJUL 222 ET AL

C. DAKAR 898

D. BANJUL 190

E. 03 BANJUL 314 ET AL

F. BANJUL 190 (ALL NOTAL)

BANJUL 00000230 001.2 OF 003


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


1. (U) This is an action message -- see para 10.

SUMMARY


2. (C) GOTG convoked diplomatic corps April 13 to protest
GOS' alleged failure to cooperate with the Gambians'
investigation into the coup plot thwarted March 21 as well.
In a well-worn GOTG accusation, Gambian officials alleged
that GOS permitted Gambian "renegades and dissidents" to
operate freely in Senegal. Among other grievances against
the GOS voiced by the Gambians, they cited movement of
Senegalese forces close to the Gambian border to "foment
unrest" here during the August/October bilateral crisis over
transport and border issues. They reported the Gambian
authorities' April 7 detention of a Senegalese "intelligence
operative." The Gambians ended the briefing with an appeal
for international pressure on the GOS so as to compel its
full cooperation with the GOTG's investigation of the failed
coup plot. We recommend that Department convoke Gambian
Ambassador to reinforce Ambassador's message on imperative of
GOTG pursuing its concerns with GOS through peaceful dialog;
we also propose that Department reiterate our human rights
concerns (e.g., treatment of detainees) over the GOTG's
ongoing investigation of the foiled coup plot. END SUMMARY.

GOTG'S ANTI-GOS ALLEGATIONS
--------------


3. (SBU) Ref a reports the April 12 visit to Banjul by
Senegalese Formin Gadio to deliver a message of "solidarity"
from President Wade to President Jammeh following the coup
plot thwarted here March 21 (ref b). The evening of April 13,
the GOTG convoked the diplomatic corps to deliver a lengthy
allegation of Senegalese misbehavior toward The Gambia,
including, most recently, GOS failure to cooperate in the
GOTG's ongoing investigation of the failed plot. Various

senior GOTG officials were on hand, with Environment Minister
Edward Singhateh and Attorney General Cheikh Tijan Hydara the
principal briefers. They explained that at an emergency GOTG
cabinet meeting earlier that day, Jammeh had given
instructions to convene the diplomatic corps to deliver its
anti-GOS protest. (NOTE: Following Senegalese Ambassador's
recent recall, no Senegalese Embassy rep attended the
briefing. END NOTE.)

THE GOTG'S BILL OF PARTICULARS
--------------


4. (SBU) The GOTG Ministers asserted that Senegalese meddling
in Gambian internal security matters was not new; they spoke
of longstanding GOS practice of granting refuge to Gambian
"renegades and dissidents," e.g., figures involved in
previously failed coup plots such as notorious rebel Kukoi
Samba Sanyang and followers, and permitting them to operate
freely. The Ministers asserted that, over the years, the
GOTG had repeatedly requested GOS assistance in countering
these nefarious elements by extraditing or simply expelling
them, but Senegalese authorities had always been
unresponsive. By contrast, the GOTG officials asserted,
when the GOS itself requested similar assistance -- e.g.,
handing over Casamance rebel elements entering Gambian
territory -- the GOTG invariably complied. (COMMENT: The
Ministers exaggerated the extent of responsiveness to the GOS
on this score; we note, per ref, GOS irritation at GOTG's
failure in summer 2005 to hand over rebel fighters. END
COMMENT)


5. (SBU) In reciting their list of grievances, the Gambian
officials mentioned the August/October 2005 dispute with
Senegal over border and transport issues, accusing the GOS of
moving troops closer to the border with The Gambia during
that period of severe bilateral strain in an attempt to
"create unrest" in this country. They went on to cite the
December 2004 assassination here of prominent journalist
Deyda Hydara, alleging that the GOS, maintaining its
uncooperative stance toward Gambian security forces, denied
GOTG investigators access to principal witnesses to the

BANJUL 00000230 002.2 OF 003


murder (i.e., the two female colleagues of Hydara wounded in
the attack on Hydara and taken to Dakar following the
incident for medical treatment).

THE FAILED COUP PLOT
--------------


6. (SBU) Turning to the failed coup plot,the Gambians claimed
that ringleader Lt Col Ndure Cham remained in the Casamance
region and that both the GOTG and GOS knew his precise
location, but that Senegalese authorities had so far declined
to detain and hand him over to the GOTG. National
Intelligence Agency head Harry Sambou, on hand for the
briefing, chimed in that radio stations in the Casamance had
recently aired an interview with Cham at his hiding place.
Referring to Formin Gadio's April 12 visit here, the GOTG
officials said Jammeh had pressed not only for the GOS to
pick up Cham, but also to reveal to the GOTG the full extent
of its knowledge and actions surrounding the aborted
overthrow attempt. Ambassador asked if the GOTG had hard
evidence of GOS complicity in the plot; the Gambians
responded that their evidence was so far limited to the
assertions of Senegalese involvement contained in detainees'
confessions (ref d) and that, hence, "a full explanation" by
the GOS was imperative.

DETENTION OF GOS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
--------------


7. (SBU) In what they portrayed as the latest example of GOS
meddling in national security matters here, the GOTG
Ministers stated that on April 7 Gambian authorities had
detained at Banjul airport a "Senegalese intelligence
operative," identified as Frederick Napel, possessing various
false identification cards. Under questioning, the latter
had claimed that he was in Banjul to meet a person coming
from Paris, the daughter of Casamance rebel figure Salif
Sadio, but Gambian investigators determined that his story
lacked credibility and were continuing to question him in
order to determine his true mission here.

APPEAL FOR PRESSURE ON GOS
--------------


8. (SBU) The Gambians ended the briefing with an appeal for
international pressure on the GOS so as to compel it to
cooperate fully with the GOTG's investigation into the failed
coup plot and cease meddling in internal security matters
here. When Ambassador mentioned imperative of GOTG's
pursuing its concerns with GOS through peaceful dialog, the
GOTG officials gave assurances of the GOTG leadership's
commitment to doing so. Ambassador asked if the GOTG
intended to take its concerns to the UN, African Union,
ECOWAS, or another international or regional organization;
the GOTG Ministers responded vaguely that the GOTG would
consider "all avenues" for its "diplomatic campaign."

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

9.(C) The GOTG's initiative to convoke the diplomatic corps
underscores its growing irritation over a suspected
Senegalese coverup in connection with the failed plot.
Judging from their presentation, the Gambians regard a
Senegalese coverup as in keeping with what they allege is a
longstanding pattern of GOS stonewalling on GOTG requests for
action against Gambian "renegades and dissidents" in Senegal.
We note, in this respect, that in the past -- e.g., in
March/April 2003 (ref e) -- Jammeh has alleged efforts by
Wade and his government to destabilize the GOTG, and Gambian
officials have long complained about GOS' perceived harboring
of radical dissidents allegedly bent on overthrowing Jammeh.
In his recent letter to President Bush alleging Dakar's
involvement in the failed coup plot (ref f) Jammeh refrained
from requesting USG action; now, the GOTG is calling for
international pressure on the GOS.

ACTION REQUEST
--------------


10. (C) We recommend that Department reinforce Ambassador's
demarches here by calling in the Gambian Ambassador to
reinforce call on the GOTG to exercise restraint and work to
resolve its concerns with the GOS through peaceful dialog.
We also propose that Department reiterate our human rights
concerns (e.g., treatment of detainees) over the GOTG's

BANJUL 00000230 003.2 OF 003


ongoing investigation of the foiled coup plot.


STAFFORD