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. -------------- GROUNDWORK -------------- ¶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. -------------- PRESUMED INNOCENCE -------------- ¶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. -------------- FRUITS OF LABOR? -------------- ¶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). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶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