Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABIDJAN1187
2007-11-28 18:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

COTE D'IVOIRE: OPA IMPLEMENTATION AT CRITICAL STAGE

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8176
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #1187/01 3321846
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 281846Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3780
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 001187 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/W-EPLUMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: OPA IMPLEMENTATION AT CRITICAL STAGE

REF: ABIDJAN 1080

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SILVIA EIRIZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 001187

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/W-EPLUMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: OPA IMPLEMENTATION AT CRITICAL STAGE

REF: ABIDJAN 1080

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SILVIA EIRIZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Modalities to carry out the identification
process were the main subject of the November 18-22 meeting
of the OPA Evaluation and Monitoring Committee (CEA). The
parties' positions were so irreconcilable that Interior
Minister Tagro reportedly abandoned the meeting along with
his delegation. President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro met
OPA Facilitator and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore in
Ouagadougou on November 27, but seem to have failed to make
progress on identification. OPA implementation has now
reached the key issue of identification, which is at the
heart of the country's political crisis. The parties'
ability to clear this hurdle will be critical to a successful
continuation of the OPA. A Presidential election in 2008 now
looks likely. End Summary.


2. (C) Modalities to carry out the identification process
were the subject of discussion at the November 18-22 meeting
of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) Evaluation and
Monitoring Committee. Mayor of the Abidjan Abobo borough
Adama Toungara, close advisor to Rally of Republicans
(Rassemblement des Republicains - RDR) leader Alassane
Ouattara, told Pol/Econ Chief November 21 that under
discussion at that meeting was the role to be played by the
Societe d'Applications Generales Electriques et Mecaniques
(SAGEM),the French technical operator designated to produce
the national identity cards. Minister of Interior and member
of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) ruling party Desire Tagro
wanted SAGEM to be under the oversight of the National
Institute of Statistics (Institut National de la Statistique
- INS). The Prime Minister's camp reportedly refused to
agree. The opposition parties view INS Director General
Mathieu Melleu, who was appointed by President Gbagbo in
2002, as a partisan FPI supporter. Melleu told Poloff October
23 that opposition party estimates of 3 million Ivorians who
need to appear before the mobile courts issuing documentation
to those whose births were never registered (audiences

foraines) are widely exaggerated and implied that the
inflated numbers are meant to swell the voter rolls with
foreigners.


3. (C) Toungara told Pol/Econ Chief that during the meeting
of the CEA, Soro sent a message to Gbagbo asking if Tagro was
speaking on his behalf regarding the relationship between INS
and SAGEM and telling him that if that were the case, Soro
would return to his northern stronghold of Bouake. According
to Toungara, Gbagbo responded that he did not support Tagro's
proposition. Toungara noted that the tension between the
parties during the CEA meeting was so high that the
Facilitator at one point kept them in separate rooms and
shuttled back and forth between them.


4. (C) Toungara said that also under discussion at the
November 18-22 meeting in Ouagadougou was the practice by
audiences foraines judges of writing "said to be" of Ivorian
nationality regarding the nationality of the applicant's
parents. Such statements will raise questions when the
recipient of the birth certification presents that document
to register to vote and to obtain the national identity card.


5. (SBU) President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro met OPA
Facilitator and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore in
Ouagadougou on November 27. No communique has been issued
but there are widespread reports that Gbagbo and Soro agreed
to hold elections by June 2008. We have seen no reports or
indication that progress was made on the issue of
identification. Gbagbo returned to Cote d'Ivoire to begin a
visit to the north to demonstrate the renewed unity of the
country. He will visit Korhogo and Ferkessedougou, Soro's
hometown, on November 28 and Boundiali and Tingrela on
November 29.


6. (C) Comment. OPA implementation, which is approximately 6
months behind schedule, has now reached the key and thorny
issue of identification. Identification and nationality are
at the heart of the country's political crisis. Soro needs
to deliver on these issues to his northern constituency since
treatment of northerners as second class citizens is a key
reason the Forces Nouvelles took up arms in 2002 and has been
a sustaining ideal throughout the five-year-long division of
the country. The audiences foraines proceedings fell apart
in 2006 during the tenure of Soro's predecessor, Charles
Konan Banny, due to FPI opposition to the process and
harassment and intimidation of applicants by FPI supporters.
Each of Cote d'Ivoire's previous peace agreements has
floundered over the identification question. For the OPA not
to join the stack of failed peace agreements, Gbagbo and Soro

ABIDJAN 00001187 002 OF 002


need to tackle the issue forthrightly and find a compromise
solution. Whether they can do that remains to be seen. While
the identification process agreed upon may not be perfect, it
has to be complete and transparent enough to reassure
northerners. Failure to come to agreement on identification
could foretell the demise of the OPA. End Comment.

NESBITT