GOVERNMENT STOPS COOPERATION WITH UN MISSION OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000379

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C O R R E C T E D C O P Y ( ADDING SIPDIS CAPTION )


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DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO AND AF/W
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2011
TAGS: PREL USUN KDEM SL
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT STOPS COOPERATION WITH UN MISSION OVER
UN MISSION QUARTERLY REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES A. STEWART FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D.

Summary
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1. (C) President Kabbah and his Government did not like the
criticisms in the recent UN Secretary General's quarterly
report to the Security Council on the UNIOSIL mission and
reacted by discontinuing cooperation with the UN mission.
The international community supports UNIOSIL and the
Executive Representative of the Secretary General (ERSG)
Victor Angelo. The UK is leading the appeal for calm.
Secretary General Annan's May 10 letter to Kabbah underscored

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that Security Council members agreed with the report's
assessment. He cited the progress made, but also cited major
challenges that remain. Annan appealed to Kabbah not to
proceed with the restrictions envisioned by the Government.
Annan is to call Kabbah late May 11. We understand that he
will delicately try to walk Kabbah back from his hard-line
position. Progress in Sierra Leone depends largely on a
successful UN mission and the ERSG is a strong leader who we
and the international community strongly support. Rather
than shooting the messenger, Kabbah and his people should
concentrate on the positive and long run progress, and on
being seen by the international community and by the Sierra
Leonean electorate not as thin-skinned but as working for
broad improvement. ERSG Angelo must be deft in finding ways
to depressurize the situation. The UK is taking the lead in
helping do that and we and the other mission need to find
ways to help. End Summary.

GOSL Displeased with UN Report ...
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2. (C) President Kabbah and his Government have taken umbrage
at the UN Secretary General's first report to the Security
Council on the operations of the UNIOSIL. UNIOSIL staff
drafted the report but UN New York staff adjusted it,
according to UNIOSIL chief, Executive Representative of the
Secretary General (ERSG) Victor Angelo.

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... and Discontinues Cooperation with UN Mission
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3. (C) On May 5, the Government delivered a Note Verbale to
UNIOSIL saying that it would discontinue cooperation with
UNIOSIL until the report is withdrawn. The Note Verbale is
unavailable, but we understand from Angelo that the
particular point the Government did not like was language to
the effect that some people think the Government is
manipulating the judicial system to its own ends, citing the
cases of Charles Margai, who started a new political party
that has broken away from Kabbah,s ruling SLPP, and the
treason case of Omrie Golley.

International Community Supports UN
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4. (C) The UK High Commission informed Charge of this
difficulty and while in the past they have had some
differences with the ERSG and UN agencies, they completely
support the UNIOSIL mission and the ERSG. Early on May 10,
as he explained, the UK Charge called the Minister for
Presidential Affairs to try to keep the Government's focus on
long term improvements, appeal for calm, and diplomatically
to de-escalate the situation so that the Government does not
continue to overreact and find itself painted into a corner.
He appealed for us to deliver a similar message calling for
calm to ministers, as the occasion arises.


5. (C) Late on May 20, ERSG Angelo called Charge to share his
similar concerns on the Government's overreaction. He said
that while there is progress in Sierra Leone, the UN
quarterly report cited a number of areas where progress is
still needed. The language, he said, was made much sharper
in NY than the more rounded terms UNIOSIL used.

UN Secretary General Letter to Kabbah ...
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6. (C) UNIOSIL forwarded to the Embassy a copy of the letter
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent to President Kabbah,
dated May 10. It underscored that Security Council members
agreed with the assessments in the report. It also cites the
progress made and lists the areas of "major challenges."
Some of the listed points are governance, the judicial
system, human rights, employment, and the fight against
corruption. The Security Council agreed with the report's
assessment, welcomed progress made, and acknowledged the need
for the Government to continue to work closely with UNIOSIL
and other partners. In his letter, the SyG reassured Kabbah
of the UN's commitment to cooperating with the Government and
appealed to Kabbah not to proceed with the restrictions
envisaged in the Note Verbale.

... And Annan to Call Kabbah May 11
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7. (C) Late on May 11, the UK Charge related that per the UK
NY Mission, SyG Annan would be calling Kabbah late in the
afternoon from Vienna. The UK view is that the call is
necessary and must be conducted most diplomatically to smooth
Sierra Leonean ruffled feathers and easy the situation back
to normal. The UK Charge promised confirmation when the call
takes place.

Comment
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8. (C) The UNIOSIL mission is essential to building security
and stability and putting the country on a footing for
greater democracy and prosperity. The international
community agrees on that and many Sierra Leoneans see that,
as well. The danger in this is that Pres. Kabbah and his
Government might keep their hackles up and for reasons of
misplaced pride, go so far as to demand the resignation of
ERSG Victor Angelo. Many Sierra Leonean leaders frequently
shout down criticism (like the UN report) of the Government
because, they say, it makes the country look bad to donors
and foreign investors, and that especially is not good, they
say, with elections coming up in 2007. The alternative is to
accept fair criticism and be seen to do so as a responsible
nation builder, and present that to the voters come 2007. We
and our contacts in the international community hold Angelo
in high professional and personal regard. He has a clear
view of the big picture and the long run, and is both
forthright and diplomatic. He speaks with a clear voice and
is often in the press with a commentary or critique; perhaps
too frequently in the view of government officials. The UN
would be unlikely to be able to find a replacement as
qualified and energetic anytime soon. There is the danger
that raising the profile of this GOSL-UN difference of
opinion could have the effect of making the Government more
rigid in its position. The better course is to work to show
the Sierra Leonean leadership a way to climb down from its
rigid stance. ERSG Angelo must be sure-footed in helping
that happen and even as the UK continues to play a lead role
locally and reportedly at UN NY, it is also incumbent on us
and other missions to support the effort. End Comment.
STEWART