THE GAMBIA: TIES WITH NIGERIA, SENEGAL, IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000333

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