COTE D'IVOIRE GOV'T, UNHCR LAUNCH SURPRISE REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000490

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA
BRUSSELS FOR MMEZNAR
DEPT PASS TO AF/W/EPLUMB AND PRM/AFR/MNICHOLSON
DEPT PASS TO USAID/OFDA/DDEBERNARDO
DAKAR PASS TO USAID/OFDA/RDAVIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE GOV'T, UNHCR LAUNCH SURPRISE REQUEST
FOR MORE FUNDING TO KEEP NICLA REFUGEE CAMP OPEN


Classified By: EconChief EMassinga, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (SBU) On May 4, Foreign Minister Bakayoko, along with
UNHCR country representative Saber Azam, convened a hastily
planned meeting of principal UNHCR donor countries (including
the European Union's country representative) to request
additional funding to keep the Guiglo region's Nicla refugee
camp open for an unspecified time frame. No budget was
provided. ONUCI Deputy SRSG Georg Carpentier sat with
Bakayoko and Azam, but did not take a lead in the
presentation. Bakayoko and Azam noted that this was a joint
request from the Ivorian government and UNHCR.


2. (C) Once the press had been ushered from the conference
room, donor countries asked pointed questions concerning the
need for maintaining the camp in operation. (Note: Nicla camp
in the Guiglo region is scheduled to close June 30th.
Indeed, Azam had in the previous few days participated in
public ceremonies marking the formal turnover of the camp to
the Ivorian government in preparation for the imminent full
closure. End Note.) Bakayoko answered a question posted by
the Spanish Ambassador by saying the Ouagadougou Peace
Accords have created a new need for Nicla, originally
established to protect Liberian refugees fleeing that
country's now-ended conflict, to remain open. The Foreign
Minister argued (somewhat illogically) that the long-standing
ethnic tensions in the Western region of Cote d'Ivoire could
flare in the context of the upcoming voter identification and
registration efforts to take place all over the country, and
that closure of Guiglo could very well inflame those
hostilities, potentially upsetting the peace and national
reunification/reconciliation process. (Note: The political
class has been somewhat unnerved by lurid reports of a
up-tick in violence in the perpetually-unsettled Western
regions)


3. (C) Bakayoko said that some 10,000 Liberians remain at
the Nicla camp as well as some 15,000 IDPs in the nearby CATD
(Center for Displaced Persons) camp, and that despite a
recent surge in repatriations, some 5,000 Liberians will
probably refuse to return to their country of origin, and
will need assistance to resettle and integrate into the local
community. The IDPs will also need such assistance. The
appeal from UNHCR and the Ivorian government was for funding
to focus on these reintegration efforts, which, according to
Azam, cannot properly begin until the last of the
repatriations is complete, when the camp staff can devote its
full attention to this new objective.


4. (C) Donors were skeptical at the apparent illogic of the
appeal. The German ambassador wanted to clarify that "the
original objective has been achieved." Even international
and UN organizations present at the meeting were disappointed
that the plan wasn't well vetted through their channels
beforehand. Other country representatives said they doubted
their governments had the resources for the proposed
activity. UNICEF country representative Yousouf Oomar told
Emboff privately that he found the appeal and its lack of
specifics amateurish (although he didn't directly address the
question of whether the camp should remain open).


5. (C) Comment. Since the May 4th meeting, Post has heard
nothing further from either the Ministry, UNHCR or the donor
countries concerning. Since the same countries have been
reluctant to respond to even modest appeals for new funding
streams to support identification, elections, DDR and
probably relief on World Bank and AfDB arrears (septel),we
doubt that this initiative will go anywhere anytime soon.
End comment.
Valle