THE GAMBIA: TIES WITH NIGERIA, SENEGAL, IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000329

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL GA SG NI IR AU
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: TIES WITH NIGERIA, SENEGAL, IRAN

REF: BANJUL 230 ET AL (NOTAL)

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

SUMMARY
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1. (C) Nigerian President Obasanjo reportedly indicated May
19 a willingness to engage in renewed mediation between The
Gambia and Senegal. The May 20 visit here by Iranian Deputy
Foreign Minister was part of a "charm offensive" by Tehran
in West Africa, according to Gambian official. END
SUMMARY.

RESUMED NIGERIAN MEDIATION WITH THE GAMBIA AND SENEGAL?
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2. (C) We note that, according to a Nigerian media report,
Nigerian President Obasanjo has indicated willingness to
mediate between The Gambia and Senegal amidst GOTG's
suspicions of GOS complicity in the coup plot thwarted
here March 21 and of harboring plot's ringleader (reftel).
Reportedly, Obasanjo told visiting Gambian Foreign Minister
Lamin Kaba Bajo May 19 that he would be "personally engaged
in efforts to resolve the issues on which both countries
currently disagree."


3. (C) COMMENT: Obasanjo has a record of effective
mediation with the Gambians; in October 2005, he
participated in a meeting in Dakar with the Gambian and
Senegalese Presidents that resolved an August/October
dispute over transport and border issues. Subsequently, in
February, he visited Banjul in a successful effort to
defuse growing strains between President Jammeh and
opposition leaders. There is talk that Obasanjo will use
the AU summit scheduled here for July 1-2 to mount a
renewed Senegalese/Gambian mediation effort. END COMMENT.

VISIT BY IRANIAN ENVOY
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4. (U) The local media reported the May 20 visit to The
Gambia by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamed Reza
Bagher, billed as a "special envoy of the Iranian
President." After meeting with President Jammeh, Bagher
spoke of the Iranians' desire to strengthen bilateral ties
and cited, in particular, the areas of trade, energy ,
fisheries, and culture.


5. (C) Discussing the visit with Ambassador, Foreign
Affairs Permanent Secretary William Joof said the Iranian's
visit was a part of a West African tour that he described
as a "charm offensive by Iran" in the sub-region.
Discussing the visit in ho-hum terms, Joof said that it had
produced no new bilateral agreements and that Jammeh had
complained to the Iranian about Tehran's failure to
implement past cooperation agreements (e.g. training of
Gambian energy officials) signed over the years. According
to the Gambian official, Jammeh told Bagher that Tehran
needed to cooperate with the "international community" on
the nuclear issue. Asked whether the Iranian had engaged
in lobbying on issues with an eye to the upcoming AU Summit
here, Joof responded in the negative.


6. (C) COMMENT: Iran has no mission here, visits to the
Gambia by Iranian officials are rare, and our sense is that
the overall Gambian/Iranian relationship is minimal.
Doubtless one constraint on the two sides' relationship is
Jammeh's staunch, public opposition to the sorts of
hard-line Islamist policies espoused by Iran -- and its
support for terrorism. END COMMENT.

STAFFORD