PRIME MINISTER SALL COMMENTS ON MCA, ELECTIONS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001204 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/EPS, AF/W, DRL/PHD, PM/WRA AND INR/AA PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016 TAGS: EAID PINR PINS PREL KMCA KHDP SG SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SALL COMMENTS ON MCA, ELECTIONS AND CASAMANCE REF: DAKAR 01149 (NOTAL) DAKAR 00001204 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Janice L. Jacobs for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On May 18, the Ambassador called on Prime Minister Macky Sall to discuss the status of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) proposal, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan (PRSP) and election preparations. The Prime Minister stressed that the MCA Compact is the GOS, highest priority and that the Compact needs to be signed this year. He described plans to name the board of directors. He reassured us that the elections will take place on February 25, 2007, and discussed the situation in Senegal,s Casamance region. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On May 18, the Ambassador and DCM spent 45 minutes with Prime Minister Sall and his new diplomatic advisor, Ambassador Abdou Salam Diallo. The Prime Minister welcomed the Ambassador, underscoring the cordial relationship between Senegal and the United States. He noted that bilateral cooperation is excellent and tat we have worked especially closely on the MCA. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT -------------- 3 (SBU) The Ambassador gave the Prime Minister the ten-page &Tasks and Timeline for Senegal,s Diamniadio Platform.8 She stressed the need to name the Board of Directors and suggested that civil society be included. The Prime Minister responded that the MCA is the most important bilateral issue and that signing this year is essential. He said the Government is ready to name the Board and that Sogue Diarisso, the head of Senegal,s original MCA Task Force, will chair it. In leafing through the list of tasks, the Prime Minister noted that some were easy to accomplish; however, furrowing his brow, he declared, &American management is complicated.8 He said that Habib Mbaye, the Director General of the Agency for the Realization of the Diamniadio Platform (AMPMD),now provides the Prime Minister with a weekly briefing. POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PLAN -------------- ¶4. (U) The Ambassador then turned to the PRSP, noting that the donors have a number of concerns about it and have provided 24 pages of comments. Sall confessed that he has not followed the new PRSP,s devlopment closely, but he called Junior Minister for the Budget Habibou Soumare and asked that he meet with the Ambassador to dicsuss the state of the PSRP. Sall also offered to host the long-requested meeting with the Private Sector Working Group to discuss the investment climate and the Accelerated Growth Strategy. ELECTION PREPARATIONS -------------- ¶5. (C) In view of discussions about postponing presidential and parliamentary elections until 2009 (reftel),the Ambassador asked about election preparations. She stressed the U.S. interest in a fair and transparent process. The Prime Minister said that the Autonomous National Election Commission,s (CENA,s) insistence on having representatives present for all voter registration had slowed things down, but the new USD 30 million voter registration and identity card system could ultimately see up to 6 million voters registered (counting Seneglese overseas). Sall insisted that the elections will occur on February 25, 2007. The Prime minister also noted that the animated political debate and the totally free press ensure that there is no lack of democracy in Senegal. Sall said that the last six polls )- in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002 ) had all been transparent. He added that as the deputy chairperson of the ruling party, he is optimistic and has no fears about the elections. He did confide that the Government may amend the constitution to eliminate the requirement that the new president must secure the votes of at least one quarter of all registered voters because the Government is not confident that three million people will actually go to the polls since voting is not obligatory. CASAMANCE -------------- ¶6. (C) When the Ambassador mentioned that during her meeting with Minister of Interior Ousmane Ngom, he had said that voter registration was even going well in Senegal,s troubled Casamance region, Sall interjected that there is a new outlook in the Casamance. He insisted that the conflict and the peace process are well managed, pointing to the decision to allow Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance DAKAR 00001204 002.2 OF 002 (MFDC) Atika faction leader Salif Sadio and his supporters to flee from Guinea-Bissau to the area near the Gambian border without being engaged by the Senegalese Army. Sall said the real issue for the Casamance is investment and that donors have been too timid about rebuilding. Asked about demining, Sall that the Senegalese Army is already demining. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) The Prime Minister was relaxed. His comments about the elections taking place on the current schedule were reassuring, and his clarification of proposed constitutional changes to eliminate the requirement to obtain the votes of at least one-fourth of all registered voters helped to put the debate about eliminating the requirement for a run-off and majorities versus pluralities in a new light. However, we continue to have concerns about the Government,s approach to the Casamance peace process, which is not progressing with intra-MFDC fighting continuing to prevent a new round of talks. END COMMENT. ¶8. (U) Visit Dakar,s classified website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/af/dakar/. JACOBS