Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUJA916
2007-05-11 10:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
GENERAL AGWAI ON DARFUR, PERSONNEL CHANGES
how-toVZCZCXRO2261 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0916 1311046 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111046Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9469 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0323 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0319 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 6821 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000916
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KPKO NI
SUBJECT: GENERAL AGWAI ON DARFUR, PERSONNEL CHANGES
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000916
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KPKO NI
SUBJECT: GENERAL AGWAI ON DARFUR, PERSONNEL CHANGES
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
1. (C) General Martin Luther Agwai met with the Ambassador
and Defense Attach on May 11 to discuss his trip to the U.N.
the week of May 14 and his next assignment as Force Commander
for AMIS (African Union Mission in Sudan) and transition of
this force to a U.N. peacekeeping force. Following his
meetings at the U.N., he will return to Nigeria the week of
May 21 -- in time for the May 29 inauguration of
President-elect Yar'adua. A week later he plans to move to
the Sudan. He expect to hand over his position to his
successor immediately following the inauguration. General
Agwai said he canceled a visit to Darfur last month due to
problems with the payment of AU allowances. (COMMENT: This
is likely the same issue as Somalia, where AU policy provides
for payment after the fact and the Nigerian military has
voiced concern over having to front large sums of money
rather than being paid month-to-month. END COMMENT.) Gen.
Agwai promised to provide the Ambassador a readout of his
discussion in the U.N. upon his return.
2. (C) Gen. Agwai spoke highly of Deputy Commander of the
U.S. European Command General William E. Ward, noting the
good relationship Gen. Ward has with a broad range of African
military commanders. Gen. Agwai said he would welcome Gen.
Ward being given command of coordinating U.N. peacekeeping
operations in Darfur.
3. (C) Gen. Agwai told the Ambassador and Defense Attach he
expects to see a lot of movement in the senior ranks of the
military following Yar'adua's inauguration. According to
Agwai, all the senior officers in the Defense Headquarters
are likely to leave upon Agwai's departure. He noted that
the Service Chiefs who would likely replace him were
initially junior to or peers of the current senior officers
in the Headquarters staff and the staff would likely leave.
(COMMENT: It is widely believed that Agwai's most likely
successor is either current Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. O.A.
Azazi or Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Paul Dike. END
COMMENT.)
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KPKO NI
SUBJECT: GENERAL AGWAI ON DARFUR, PERSONNEL CHANGES
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
1. (C) General Martin Luther Agwai met with the Ambassador
and Defense Attach on May 11 to discuss his trip to the U.N.
the week of May 14 and his next assignment as Force Commander
for AMIS (African Union Mission in Sudan) and transition of
this force to a U.N. peacekeeping force. Following his
meetings at the U.N., he will return to Nigeria the week of
May 21 -- in time for the May 29 inauguration of
President-elect Yar'adua. A week later he plans to move to
the Sudan. He expect to hand over his position to his
successor immediately following the inauguration. General
Agwai said he canceled a visit to Darfur last month due to
problems with the payment of AU allowances. (COMMENT: This
is likely the same issue as Somalia, where AU policy provides
for payment after the fact and the Nigerian military has
voiced concern over having to front large sums of money
rather than being paid month-to-month. END COMMENT.) Gen.
Agwai promised to provide the Ambassador a readout of his
discussion in the U.N. upon his return.
2. (C) Gen. Agwai spoke highly of Deputy Commander of the
U.S. European Command General William E. Ward, noting the
good relationship Gen. Ward has with a broad range of African
military commanders. Gen. Agwai said he would welcome Gen.
Ward being given command of coordinating U.N. peacekeeping
operations in Darfur.
3. (C) Gen. Agwai told the Ambassador and Defense Attach he
expects to see a lot of movement in the senior ranks of the
military following Yar'adua's inauguration. According to
Agwai, all the senior officers in the Defense Headquarters
are likely to leave upon Agwai's departure. He noted that
the Service Chiefs who would likely replace him were
initially junior to or peers of the current senior officers
in the Headquarters staff and the staff would likely leave.
(COMMENT: It is widely believed that Agwai's most likely
successor is either current Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. O.A.
Azazi or Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Paul Dike. END
COMMENT.)
CAMPBELL