MFDC MURDERS CASAMANCE DEPUTY PREFECT: ARE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000043

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/PHD AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR POL ) D,ELIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PINS CASC PHUM PINR PU SG
SUBJECT: MFDC MURDERS CASAMANCE DEPUTY PREFECT: ARE
HARDLINERS TRYING TO SABOTAGE THE PEACE PROCESS?

REF: A. 05 DAKAR 3168 (NOTAL)

B. 05 DAKAR 2659 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CDA ROBERT P. JACKSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: After a long period of stagnation in the
peace process, the Government and the Movement of Democratic
Forces of the Casamance (MFDC) have launched new initiatives.
The December 20 meeting in Sao Domingos, Guinea-Bissau
(Reftel),between GOS representatives, MFDC leaders, and the
&Collectif des Cadres Casamancais,8 a group of leading
intellectuals and executives from the Casamance, brought
Abbot Augustin Diamacoune Senghor together with MFDC military
leaders for the first time in over 10 years. Diamacoune, the
founder of the MFDC, discussed independence and the peace
process with the &maquisards8 (the rebel fighters).
Nevertheless, recent acts of violence, including the January
2 assassination of a GOS sub-prefect by alleged MFDC members,
indicate that serious obstacles to the peace process remain.
Failure to convince MFDC hardliners to join the peace process
may result in more violent incidents by those who fear that
the signing of a peace agreement is likely to be done at
their expense. END SUMMARY.

CHIEF COMBATANTS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE
--------------

2. (U) On December 20, Presidential Advisor Pierre Goudiaby
Atepa and the Collectif des Cadres Casamancais organized a
meeting in Sao Domingos, Guinea-Bissau, with the chiefs of
the armed wing of the MFDC. The purpose of the meeting was
to have chief combatants meet Father Diamacoune to discuss
the peace process and begin to design a common MFDC
negotiating platform. The meeting was attended by Magne
Dieme, Chief of the &Camp de la Paix8 and Cesar Badiate,
Chief of the Kassolol branch, who are the two most
representative chiefs of the Atika factions. While the
Paris-based Nkrumah and Guinea-Bissau-based Salif Sadio, the
most radical leader in the armed factions, boycotted the
meeting, at least Sadio,s lieutenants attended. The
combatants pressured Diamacoune to issue a statement
condemning Sadio,s intransigence and declaring that if he
does not join the peace process he will be outlawed by MFDC
factions that are in favor of negotiations.

GUINEA BISSAU LENDS KEY SUPPORT TO SENEGAL
--------------

3. (SBU) The meeting was organized with the blessing of
President Wade who asked his Bissau-Guinean counterpart,
President Joao Bernardo &Nino8 Viera, to facilitate the
meeting. Bissau-Guinean Armed Forces Chief of Staff General
Batista Tagme Na Waie played an important role in the meeting
and encouraged the unity of the maquis. However, he insisted
on the need to neutralize Sadio if peace is to be achieved in
Casamance.

RADICALS KIDNAP AND ASSASSINATE A GOS OFFICIAL
-------------- -

4. (C) On January 2, two weeks after the Sao Domingos
meeting, combatants allegedly from Magne Dieme,s faction
staged several armed robberies of public transport vehicles.
The most serious incident occurred on January 2, when they
kidnapped the Deputy Prefect (District Administrative
Officer) of Diouloulou (in northwestern Casamance).
According to President Abdoulaye Wade, the Deputy Prefect
shot at the attackers and died from the wounds they
inflicted. In a note sent to Diamacoune after the killing,
the presumed authors of the &braquages8 warned that they
would continue to commit acts of banditry as long as they
lack the means to feed themselves.

PEACE HAS A PRICE
--------------

5. (C) President Wade continues to pay MFDC leaders to
ensure that the ceasefire holds and that acts of banditry are
not committed by armed combatants in need. A senior NGO
official told Embassy staff that in November, President Wade
responded to a request from the maquis and gave 7 million CFA
francs (CFAF) (USD 14,000) to the Collectif des Cadres
Casamancais to distribute to the maquisards. The GOS
reportedly distributes an average of 13 million CFAF (USD
25,000) to the civilian and military wings of the MFDC every
month, but distribution of this aid has always been a
problem. It is believed that both GOS officials and MFDC
chiefs through whom this aid transits keep a significant
part, leaving combatants with very little. In fact, MFDC
combatants asked Goudiaby to give the food or money to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),and ICRC
Delegate Henry Fournier subsequently told Charge that he is

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willing and able to distribute the food.

... AND MANY FATHERS
--------------

6. (C) Goudiaby, Fournier and SUD FM journalist Ibrahima
Gassama credit Ziguinchor Mayor Robert Sagna with encouraging
key GOS and MFDC figures to relaunch the peace talks.
Although a leading member of the opposition Socialist Party
(PS),Sanha enjoys the confidence of both President Wade and
a range of MFDC leaders. Gassama,s October interview with
Sadio also helped to reenergize the peace process. Gassama,
however, has received death threats as a result of the
interview. He told Charge and A/PAO that once the charges
against him have been heard (Refs A and B),that he would
like to leave Senegal for several months on a fellowship of
program of study in the United States or Europe.

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

7. (SBU) COMMENT: Sanha, Gassama and the Sao Domingos
meeting have stimulated the peace process at a moment when
many observers were worried about the lack of progress since
the truce was signed on December 30, 2004. The Deputy
Prefect,s murder highlights the MFDC,s lack of control over
combatants and, according to Wade, their desperation for food
and money. Despite the rise in armed robberies, kidnappings
and 9-12 deaths since the truce was signed, the situation in
the Casamance is still under control. No armed confrontation
has occurred between the Senegalese Army and the MFDC, and
President Wade told Codel Kolbe (septel) that he is
determined to prevent a resumption of fighting. The desire
to resolve the conflict peacefully prevails and is supported
by the people of the Casamance. Salif Sadio and his
followers, who have remained in the bush since the conflict
erupted in the 1980s and are thus out of touch with evolving
realities, will be the hardest to bring into the peace
process. They still live with the ideals of independence
that led them to the &maquis8 (hideout). Violent incidents
are likely to continue, given the combatants, lack of
confidence in the Government, a negotiated settlement, and
their own post-conflict future. END COMMENT.
JACKSON