AF/W DIRECTOR CARTER DISCUSSES SUDAN AND WEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000940 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, IO/PSC, AND INR/AA PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2011 TAGS: PREL KPKO SU GA GV IV MR PU SG US SUBJECT: AF/W DIRECTOR CARTER DISCUSSES SUDAN AND WEST AFRICA REF: A. DAKAR 00939 (NOTAL) ¶B. DAKAR 00766 (NOTAL) Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: AF/W Director Phillip Carter discussed peacekeeping and Darfur with Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG P.K. Fall early in his visit. Carter concluded his successful visit to Senegal with a tour d,horizon of African issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Ambassador Mankeur Ndiaye told Carter that Senegal is increasing its presence in Darfur. The CHOD highlighted some of Senegal,s problems in Darfur and emphasized that Senegalese troops are not fighting in Guinea-Bissau. Ndiaye urged the United States to increase assistance to Guinea-Bissau and noted that the fragile state may the new UN Peacebuilding Commission,s first test. Carter emphasized progress toward elections in Cote d,Ivoire and Mauritania. He stressed that the United States supports a constitutional, political transition in Guinea. Ndiaye said President Wade had called President Jammeh to refute allegations of Senegalese support for the coup plot. Ndiaye also said that Senegal agrees that Mauritanian refugees in Senegal may return home. END SUMMARY. LIBERIA -------------- ¶2. (U) On March 28, the last day of Director of West African Affairs (AF/W) Phillip Carter,s visit to Senegal, Carter and then Charge spent over an hour with Ambassador Mankeur Ndiaye, the Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA); Papa Omar Ndiaye, the Director of International Organizations; and the new Director of African and Asian Affairs. After addressing Charles Taylor,s flight (Ref B),Carter turned to other African issues. U.S.-SENEGAL AGENDA -------------- ¶3. (C) Noting a convergence in virtually all areas of engagement, Carter joked about the paucity of bilateral issues that needed to be resolved between the United States and Senegal. Charge gave Ndiaye a copy of Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Danilovich,s March 28 letter to Prime Minister Macky Sall, and Ndiaye responded that Senegal must sign a Millennium Challenge Account Compact. Carter commented positively on Senegal,s extensive involvement in peacekeeping and the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program. PEACEKEEPING -------------- ¶4. (C) During Carter,s March 27 call on the LTG P.K. Fall, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (CHOD),Carter thanked Fall for Senegal,s extensive contributions to peacekeeping, and Fall responded that Senegal has over 2,000 peacekeepers in the field and as many in training. Fall said the armed forces have another 3,500-4,000 soldiers in the Casamance, where they are deeply involved in reconstruction. He underscored that they were not involved in the fighting in northern Guinea-Bissau. DARFUR -------------- ¶5. (C) Fall said that Senegal strongly supports re-hatting the African Union (AU) Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Fall stated that the AU has yet to reimburse Senegal for the 1.2 billion CFA francs (CFAF) (USD 2.4 million) that it has spent on the Sudan deployment to date. Moreover, many Senegalese peacekeepers have not been deployed due to logistical problems, including shortages of fuel and lack of helicopters, as well as command, control and communications problems. ¶6. (C) Ndiaye stated that Senegal is preparing to increase its presence from 538 to 700 soldiers. Carter stressed that we must convert the African Union (AU) Mission in Sudan into a UN peacekeeping operation, and Ndiaye agreed, noting that command is a sensitive issue for the AU countries. COTE D,IVOIRE -------------- ¶7. (C) Turning to Cote d,Ivoire, Carter noted that General Abdoulaye Fall is impressive and is managing a difficult task at commander of the UN force in Cote d,Ivoire. Carter noted the positive momentum from the February 25 meeting and said that the international community needs to reinforce Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny,s position. Ndiaye noted the Banny and his Foreign Minister had just made separate visits to Dakar and that President Laurent Gbagbo may soon come. DAKAR 00000940 002 OF 002 GUINEA -------------- ¶8. (C) Turning to Cote d,Ivoire,s other western neighbor, Guinea, Carter underscored that the United States supports a political and constitutional transition. Ndiaye responded that the army must play a role because &the Government does not function.8 Nonetheless, the recent successful labor strike demonstrated that Guinea is changing. THE GAMBIA -------------- ¶9. (C) Ndiaye then raised The Gambia and noted that the GOTG had paraded alleged coup plotters before the television cameras the previous evening and that they had accused Senegalese officials of involvement in the coup plot. Ndiaye said President Wade had called President Jammeh to assure him that was not true. Moreover, the Gambian Ministers of Agriculture and Interior were coming to Dakar. Ndiaye said former Chief of Staff Cham,s whereabouts were unknown. Ndiaye assured us that in spite of the allegations, Senegal plans to proceed with both the proposed bridge across the Gambia River and with the establishment of a Permanent Gambia-Senegal Secretariat. He added that the only obstacle to both is financing. MAURITANIA -------------- ¶10. (C) Carter then raised Mauritania, noting that while the political space is more open, there was no other option but to hold elections as soon as possible. He said the census was not perfect, but, given the country,s ambitious election schedule, the process in Mauritania needed to move forward. Ndiaye noted that Col. Fal had just visited Senegal and had said that no Mauritanian refugees remained in Senegal. Charge queried if that is the GOS,s position, and Ndiaye demurred, saying that it seems clear that Mauritanians who wish to return may do so. GUINEA-BISSAU -------------- ¶11. (C) Completing the regional tour d,horizon, Ndiaye urged the United States to provide more assistance to Guinea-Bissau. Ndiaye said it could and should be the first test for the new UN Peacebuilding Commission. Charge noted that we currently provide approximately USD 2 million in assistance to Guinea-Bissau and are working with the World Bank and IMF, which had a joint team in Bissau at the time. COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (U) Mr. Carter has cleared this message. Ref A reports on other discussions, particularly on the economy and Senegalese politics. END COMMENT. JACOBS