COTE D'IVOIRE: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SEEKS U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000892

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SEEKS U.S.
ENGAGEMENT


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Henri Ettien Amoikon, Director of the
Minister of Defense's Cabinet, told Poloff August 21 that
President Gbagbo told members of the Armed Forces (FANCI -
Forces Armees Nationales de Cote d'Ivoire) August 14 that the
Ivorian state will pay its year-long arrears of soldiers'
bonuses. Kouassi Raphael, Chief of the Minister of Defense's
Cabinet, said that President Gbagbo does not consider the
issue of ranks of the Forces Nouvelles (FN) members to be
integrated into the FANCI to be critical to progress on the
Ouagadougou Political Accord (OPA). Raphael added that it is
not a matter that needs to be resolved right away. Amoikon
said the peace process is sufficiently advanced to permit
lifting the arms embargo on Cote d'Ivoire. Raphael requested
U.S. training for the FANCI and said Cote d'Ivoire needs U.S.
engagement on fostering development. End Summary.


2. (C) Henri Ettien Amoikon, Director of the Minister of
Defense's Cabinet, told Poloff August 21 that his office is
focused on application of the OPA and achieving the unity of
the country and the Armed Forces. Amoikon said that in his
August 14 meeting with representatives of the FANCI,
President Laurent Gbagbo said it is critical to emerge from
the civil war for the good of the nation. According to
Amoikon, Gbagbo said holding elections will improve the
nation economy's and will make it easier to address the
FANCI's quality of life concerns. Amoikon stated that Gbagbo
told the FANCI that the year-long arrears in payment of
soldiers' bonuses is a debt that the state will pay; Amoikon
did not say that Gbagbo provided any timeframe for payment.
Amoikon and Kouassi Raphael, Chief of the Minister of
Defense's Cabinet, explained that the government is one year
behind in payment of a food bonus of 180,000 CFA per month
(US $360) that soldiers have received since the civil war
began. Amoikon told Poloff that solutions are being sought
to address their concerns, which include the lack of uniforms
and vehicles.


3. (C) Amoikon told Poloff that resolution of the ranks to be
given to the Forces Nouvelles (FN) members who will be
integrated into the FANCI is a "delicate problem" that will
be solved by President Gbagbo, Prime Minister Soro, and OPA
Facilitator and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore.
Amoikon added that they are discussing the issue, but have
not yet found a solution. Raphael noted that the issue of
the ranks of the FN soldiers who are reintegrated into the
FANCI is not a problem since their ranks will be discussed by
a committee and, by joining the FANCI, they agree to abide by
its decisions. Raphael said the problem concerns the ranks
that will be recognized for the FN members who want to retire
from the Armed Forces. Raphael noted that President Gbagbo
does not consider the issue of ranks to be critical to the
implementation of the OPA.


4. (C) Amoikon said the peace process is sufficiently
advanced to permit lifting of the arms embargo on Cote
d'Ivoire. Raphael said Cote d'Ivoire wants the U.S. to be
its "partner." He requested U.S. training for the FANCI and
said Cote d'Ivoire needs U.S. engagement to foster its
development. Raphael said Cote d'Ivoire wants to learn how
the U.S. became a country that "everyone wants to be a
citizen of." He noted that Cote d'Ivoire does not always want
to be a recipient of international aid.


5. (C) Comment: Embassy does not believe Cote d'Ivoire is far
enough along in the peace process to permit lifting of the
arms embargo at this time. Disarmament has not begun despite
the symbolic burning of a small number of mostly obsolete
weapons at 2 ceremonies. Resumption of arms purchases by the
government would shake the fragile confidence that exists
between the government and the FN. While according to the
OPA, progress on disarmament should be well underway before
elections take place, Jean-Luc Stalon, Chief of the UN
Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) Disarmament,
Demobilization, and Reintegration Unit told Poloff August 6
that the government is more focused on holding elections than
on disarmament, which further undermines the arguments for
lifting the embargo. OPA Facilitator Burkina Faso President
Compaore sent the UN Security Council a letter requesting
lifting of the arms embargo with the consent of both
President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro, but this took place
before the June 29 attack on Soro's plane, which has changed
circumstances. The international community could consider
lifting the arms embargo once either the disarmament process
is completed or free and fair elections are held, whichever
comes first.
HUDDLESTON