SNAPSHOT: NIGERIA ON AFRICOM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002399 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PMIL NI SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT: NIGERIA ON AFRICOM Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) During a November 15 meeting, Air Vice Marshal Christian Marizu of the Chief of Defense Staff's Policy and Planning Staff told Poloff that GON officials used Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's November 12-13 visit to Abuja to pressure her to no longer negotiate with the U.S. bilaterally concerning the possibility of Liberia hosting an element of AFRICOM. This was not a move to frustrate U.S. plans, he said, but rather an effort to have West African nations speak to the U.S. with one voice. He also expressed appreciation that the U.S. was "finally" sending senior officials to Nigeria to discuss the matter. Ongoing negative press coverage notwithstanding, GON officials continue to privately speak positively about AFRICOM, which Marizu called a "noble, noble plan." PIASCIK