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