Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAKAR835
2006-04-05 17:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:  

IT MAY BE TIME FOR DIPLOMACY TO END THE FIGHTING

Tags:  MOPS PHUM PREF SNAR PU SG 
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VZCZCXRO3398
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #0835/01 0951716
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051716Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4766
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0170
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE PRIORITY 0866
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0719
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 0373
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY 0406
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000835 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/RSA, PRM/AFR, DRL/PHD AND AF/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR WARP
LISBON ALSO FOR DAO
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREF SNAR PU SG
SUBJECT: IT MAY BE TIME FOR DIPLOMACY TO END THE FIGHTING
IN NORTHERN GUINEA-BISSAU

REF: A. USDAO DAKAR SG IIR 8 886 0086 06 DTG 030812Z APR

06

B. USDAO DAKAR SG IIR 8 886 0084 06 DTG 291649 MAR 06

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000835

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/RSA, PRM/AFR, DRL/PHD AND AF/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR WARP
LISBON ALSO FOR DAO
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREF SNAR PU SG
SUBJECT: IT MAY BE TIME FOR DIPLOMACY TO END THE FIGHTING
IN NORTHERN GUINEA-BISSAU

REF: A. USDAO DAKAR SG IIR 8 886 0086 06 DTG 030812Z APR

06

B. USDAO DAKAR SG IIR 8 886 0084 06 DTG 291649 MAR 06

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The fighting in northern Guinea-Bissau was a
major theme of Charge and PolOff,s March 29-31 meetings with
Bissau-Guinean leaders. Charge told Major General Tagme that
parliamentarians and the media have a right to raise
questions about the ongoing operations, which have displaced
more than 8,000 people to date. Tagme did not respond
directly but clearly believes that members of the African
Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
(PAIGC) have supported Salif Sadio,s MFDC faction, which has
purchased landmines and weapons from the sale of narcotics.
Landmines are slowing the "guerilla army,s8 advance against
the MFDC guerillas. UNOGBIS, ECOWAS, the CPLP and the ICRC
are all examining ways to implement President Vieira,s
request to help find a diplomatic solution. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Charge and PolOff traveled to Guinea-Bissau, March
29-31. The conflict between Movement of Democratic Forces of
the Casamance (MFDC) factions and the Bissau-Guinean Army
dominated some of our meetings. Chief of Staff of the Armed
Forces (CHOD) Major General Baptista Tagme Na Waie and four
of his senior officers ) all International Military Training
and Education (IMET) program graduates -- spent 30 minutes
with Charge and PolOff on March 30. Tagme said that the
Bissau-Guinean armed forces have captured four of MFDC Atika
leader Salif Sadio,s eight bases ) all of which are near
Sao Domingos. Sadio and his men are putting up stiff
resistance, however, using four 81-millimeter Soviet-made
bazookas and one heavy machine gun, as well as both tank and
anti-personnel mines to protect themselves. Although the
MFDC may be running low on ammunition, the mines are impeding
progress. Tagme noted that the MFDC has mined the road from

Sao Domingos to Varela but that the road from Ziguinchor to
Bissau remains open. Tagme described MFDC human rights
abuses, including beheading one village leader, and its
operations as an independent power. Tagme felt sure that the
MFDC acquires supplies from narcotics sales. However, he was
uncertain whether the MFDC confined itself to selling
marijuana or had branched out into the cocaine trade.


3. (C) Charge told Tagme that if he had evidence that
politicians had helped the MFDC (Ref A),he should share that
evidence with police and prosecutors. Charge insisted that
members of the National Popular Assembly (ANP) and the media
had the right ) even the duty ) to raise legitimate
questions about the military campaign. Characteristically,
Tagme did not reply directly, saying only that although the
MFDC has representatives in every major town in
Guinea-Bissau, the rebel group has no right to operate from
Bissau-Guinean territory. In meetings with President Joao
Bernardo &Nino8 Vieira, Prime Minister Aristides Gomes,
Foreign Minister Isaac Monteiro, Special Advisor to the Prime
Minister Afonso Te, UNOGIS Representative Joao Honwana, and
International Monetary Fund ResRep Ousmane Dore, Charge also
stressed concern about Tagme,s comments. Te said that
Vieira had told Tagme to cease and desist. For his part,
Vieira said Tagme was very frustrated with the length of the
campaign and the loss of life. Other interlocutors
emphasized that most Bissau-Guineans had expected that Salif
Sadio and his men would be driven into Senegal, killed or
captured within three days. No one had anticipated that the
operation would go beyond three weeks. Vieira indicated that
contrary to other reports, the armed forces had only suffered
six ) not 60 ) combat deaths through March 30. Vieira told
us he would ask the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) to attempt to contact Sadio and mediate with him.
UNOGBIS, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries
(CPLP),and the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) are also seeking a ceasefire as a prelude to a
diplomatic initiative and/or solution.


4. (C) COMMENT: The Prime Minister was in Dakar for
consultations through March 30. The Defense Minister and
Chief of the Naval Staff had been in Dakar the previous week,
and President Vieira came to Dakar for April 3-5, where he

DAKAR 00000835 002 OF 002


met with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Cape Verdean
President Pedro Pires, Congolese President and OAU Chairman
Denis Sassou Nguessou, Gabonese President Omar Bongo and
Libyan leader Mouammar Qadhafi. He did reportedly ask for
assistance in seeking Sadio's exit through negotiations.
Meanwhile, Embassy believes credible reports that the
Government of Senegal is providing food, fuel, ammunition and
intelligence for the Bissau-Guinean military operation.
Senegal may also eventually be asked to provide combat pay to
prevent a repetition of the October 2004 mutiny. Meanwhile,
Senegal continues its efforts to seal the border and to give
the appearance of scrupulously respecting its December 2004
ceasefire with the MFDC. At this point, a diplomatic
solution may be attractive to both the GOGB and Sadio, and it
might allow the 8,500 or so displaced people to return to
their homes. END COMMENT.
JACKSON