THE GAMBIA: VISIT BY SENEGALESE PRESIDENT WADE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000394

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS DAO, ODC, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AU GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: VISIT BY SENEGALESE PRESIDENT WADE

REF: A. BANJUL 348 AND PREVIOUS


B. BANJUL 296 ET AL

C. DAKAR 1306 (ALL NOTAL)

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

WADE'S TWO-FOLD MISSION
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1. (U) On June 19, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade made a
two-hour visit to Banjul, meeting with his Gambian
counterpart, President Yahya Jammeh. In media remarks
afterward, Wade indicated that he had come with a two-fold
mission: to ascertain what assistance the GOS might provide
the GOTG in connection with its hosting the July 1-2 African
Union Summit and to consult on the coup plot thwarted here
March 21. Judging from media reports, Wade stopped short of
confirming his personal attendance at the Summit and made no
mention of specific Summit-related assistance that the GOS
might provide.

FAILED COUP PLOT
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2. (U) On the failed coup plot, Wade denied any Senegalese
complicity in the plot and also sought to knock down ongoing
rumors that Senegalese authorities are harboring the escaped
ringleader, former Chief of Defense Staff Ndure Cham. Wade
denied any awareness of plotters hiding in Senegal, but added
that he would have Senegalese security forces continue the
search. He stated that any plotters found in Senegal would
not be handed over to the GOTG, but instead would be
expelled, in accordance with "my policy." Wade reportedly
went on to urge Jammeh to "exercise mercy" and pardon any
convicted plotters "in a spirit of reconciliation."

JAMMEH'S RESPONSE
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3. (U) In his media comments, Jammeh asserted that "some
countries" had been involved in the overthrow attempt, but
also stated that he was not accusing Senegal of involvement.
He went on, though, to appeal to Wade for the expulsion of
any plotters found in Senegal "in order to avoid mistrust
between The Gambia and Senegal." Jammeh suggested that the
merciful treatment of plotters proposed by Wade was not in
the cards, saying "I promised to make an example of the coup
plotters, which I will do."

COMMENT
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4. (C) There was no advance announcement of Wade's visit,
and his gesture to Jammeh in making the visit was perhaps its
most noteworthy aspect. The visit occurred against the
backdrop of heightened bilateral strains due to Jammeh's
suspicions of a Senegalese hand in the failed plot and of
GOS' harboring of ringleader Cham (refs a and b). Judging
from Jammeh's remarks, the discussions did little to overcome
those suspicions. Although there was no mention of the
Casamance issue in the two leaders' reported statements, it
is hard to imagine that this key bilateral concern did not
surface in some way in the talks. We note, in this regard,
Wade's suggestion to Ambassador Jacobs of Jammeh's
cooperation with dissident MFDC leader Salif Sadio (ref c),
as well as media reports of the mid-June resumption of
clashes between Sadio's forces and opposing MFDC elements in
northern Casamance, near the Gambian border. We will look
for an early opportunity to meet with newly appointed
Senegalese High Commissioner Mamadou Fall (described in the
media as former senior Foreign Ministry adviser) to get his
take on the Casamance angle and other bilateral concerns.
END COMMENT.
STAFFORD