Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LILONGWE33
2006-01-12 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
MALAWI: CONCERNS ABOUT SUDANESE PRESIDENT BASHIR'S
VZCZCXRO9808 RR RUEHMR RUEHPA DE RUEHLG #0033 0121426 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 121426Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2216 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0946 RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000033
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: CONCERNS ABOUT SUDANESE PRESIDENT BASHIR'S
POSSIBLE CANDIDACY FOR AU CHAIR
REF: SECSTATE 226663
Classified By: Political Officer Tyler Sparks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000033
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: CONCERNS ABOUT SUDANESE PRESIDENT BASHIR'S
POSSIBLE CANDIDACY FOR AU CHAIR
REF: SECSTATE 226663
Classified By: Political Officer Tyler Sparks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) On January 12 Ambassador Eastham met with Minister of
Foreign Affairs Davies Katsonga, and the issue of next weeks
African Union summit arose. Katsonga spoke at length about
who the next Chairman might be, unequivocally ruling out
President Bashir of the Sudan and President Sassou of
Congo-Brazzaville.
2. (C) Katsonga stated that neither Bashir nor Sassou would
be acceptable as Chairman, as both have problems running
their own countries. Katsonga stated that the African Union,
as a new organization, needs a leader that can bring
respectability to the organization, and which neither Bashir
nor Sassou could. He also pointed out that two important
voting blocks come into play in selecting a Chair, namely
that Christian countries outnumber Muslim countries (which is
a roadblock for Bashir) and Anglophone countries outnumber
Fracophone (causing the same problems for Sassou). Katsonga
instead pointed towards more likely candidates Mozambique,
Tunisia (which would also face the Muslim "problem") or South
Africa.
EASTHAM
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: CONCERNS ABOUT SUDANESE PRESIDENT BASHIR'S
POSSIBLE CANDIDACY FOR AU CHAIR
REF: SECSTATE 226663
Classified By: Political Officer Tyler Sparks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) On January 12 Ambassador Eastham met with Minister of
Foreign Affairs Davies Katsonga, and the issue of next weeks
African Union summit arose. Katsonga spoke at length about
who the next Chairman might be, unequivocally ruling out
President Bashir of the Sudan and President Sassou of
Congo-Brazzaville.
2. (C) Katsonga stated that neither Bashir nor Sassou would
be acceptable as Chairman, as both have problems running
their own countries. Katsonga stated that the African Union,
as a new organization, needs a leader that can bring
respectability to the organization, and which neither Bashir
nor Sassou could. He also pointed out that two important
voting blocks come into play in selecting a Chair, namely
that Christian countries outnumber Muslim countries (which is
a roadblock for Bashir) and Anglophone countries outnumber
Fracophone (causing the same problems for Sassou). Katsonga
instead pointed towards more likely candidates Mozambique,
Tunisia (which would also face the Muslim "problem") or South
Africa.
EASTHAM