CHADIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION SURPRISE

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001025

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA-WATCHERS
INFO AF/PD (CANYASO)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CD ASEC
SUBJECT: CHADIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION SURPRISE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Chad has become accustomed to its
habitual position near the bottom of most international
rankings, from infrastructure to human development. However,
they now find themselves at the top of the Transparency
International list of most corrupt countries, tied with
Bangladesh. This inauspicious ranking, coupled with the new
influx of oil revenues, has led to an increased public
perception of the high stakes of government corruption.
Created two years ago, the Ministry of General State Control
and Moralization has begun to take measures in the fight
against corruption. It pursued a high-profile case in which
a sitting Minister was ousted, and according to the Minister,
has investigated 15 other cases. Despite steps in the right
direction, the Ministry faces significant obstacles in
curbing corruption, especially within the higher ranks of
power. End Summary.

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GROUNDWORK
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2. (U) On July 28, the Ambassador met with the Minister of
Moralization, Mahamat Bechir Okormi, and seven members of his
staff. Their basic work, according to the Minister, is to
develop a comprehensive strategy for combating corruption in
Chad at every level. Broadly, this includes educating people
about corruption, investigating cases, and involving the
media and civil society groups in anti-corruption efforts.
The Ministry of Moralization was established in July 2004,
and the current Minister has been serving since August 2005.
Since its inception two years ago, the Ministry of
Moralization has focused on researching legal texts, setting
up rules and by-laws concerning their mission, finding the
proper legal mechanisms to investigate possible cases of
corruption. The Ministry has a total of 30 technicians.


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PRESUMED INNOCENCE
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3. (U) As a general strategy, the Minister stated, they
avoid heavy press involvement in the early stages of an
investigation, so as not to wrongfully damage the accused and
risk possible legal complications at a future trial.
However, the Minister also highlighted the importance of the
media to inform the public when an investigation has been
passed to the judiciary, or when a Minister or other official
has been sanctioned. For lower profile cases or cases
involving smaller amounts of money, the Minister said, he
allows a period of two weeks for the accused to present
evidence of innocence. In more high-profile cases and those
involving large sums (those over 100 million FCFA, or 200,000
USD),however, they proceed more quickly to a full-scale
investigation.

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FRUITS OF LABOR?
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4. (U) The Minister recently completed their most
high-profile investigation to date. The sitting Minister of
Livestock, along with one of his predecessors, now stand
accused of embezzling government money from a fund
established to assist development of the livestock sector.
The sitting Minister was removed from his post -- a first for
Chad -- and both he and his predecessor are awaiting trial.
The case received front-page press coverage. The Minister of
Moralization said that they have investigated some 15 other
cases, including another large case involving the Chadian
telephone company SOTEL, in which arrest were made and
several former employees are in prison awaiting trial (NOTE:
The charges against the Minister of Livestock appeared in the
press one day prior to World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz'
visit to Chad. END NOTE).


5. (U) According to Chadian law, Ministers cannot be tried
until the National Assembly suspends their immunity.
Although the sitting Minister of Livestock was dismissed from
his post, his immunity has not yet been suspended to allow a
trial to proceed, nor have the Ministry of Justice or the
Chadian High Court made any substantial moves toward trial.
In fact, as the Minister stated, none of his investigations
and subsequent charges have yet resulted in a trial. When we
asked what he felt he could do to encourage efficient handing
of his investigations by the courts, the Minister shrugged
his shoulders, stating that he "doesn't want to get involved"
with any aspect of the legal procedures. He also stated that
his office has not yet gotten involved in investigating
misuse of funds for projects funded through the Oil Revenue
Management College, due to what he described as a "lack of
resources." (COMMENT: The College's 2005 report identified
many serious deficiencies in the implementation of projects
funded from oil revenues. END COMMENT).

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) According to Transparency International, Chad is
the most corrupt country on earth. However, with the
dismissal of a sitting Minister, it appears that the Ministry
of Moralization possesses more political will and
Presidential backing to combat corruption than most observers
would have anticipated. Whether the National Assembly
follows through in lifting the immunity of the accused
remains to be seen. Furthermore, almost every office and
agency was mentioned by the Minister during his discussions
with us, except one: the Presidency. Many observers believe
that to truly end corruption in Chad, they will need to begin
at the top.
WALL