Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANJUL83
2007-02-15 17:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: NO CHANGE IN UNHELPFUL POSTURE ON THE

Tags:  PREL PINS SG GA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9226
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0083 0461711
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 151711Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7315
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2//
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000083 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC, DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: NO CHANGE IN UNHELPFUL POSTURE ON THE
CASAMANCE

REF: A. DAKAR 275


B. BANJUL 5

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

MFDC FIGURES REMAIN IN DETENTION
---------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000083

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC, DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: NO CHANGE IN UNHELPFUL POSTURE ON THE
CASAMANCE

REF: A. DAKAR 275


B. BANJUL 5

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

MFDC FIGURES REMAIN IN DETENTION
--------------


1. (C) Ambassador raised the GOTG's Casamance posture in
separate discussions February 14 with Senegalese Ambassador
Mamadou Fall and Pap Saine, the well-connected chief editor
of the daily, "The Point." Both asserted that President
Jammeh's meddling in the Casamance was continuing, claiming
that three leading MFDC figures cooperating in GOS peace
efforts -- Alexandre Djibba,Magne Dieme, and Kamoughe Diatta
-- remained in detention here. Saine linked the trio's
ongoing, months-long detention to Jammeh's conviction that
the GOS was harboring the presumed ringleader in the abortive
March 2006 coup plot here; Col Ndure Cham; according to
Saine, Jammeh insisted on the GOS handing over Cham as a
condition for releasing the MFDC detainees.

SALIF SADIO'S WHEREABOUTS
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador noted persistent rumors of ongoing
collusion between Jammeh and MFDC hard-liner Salif Sadio.
Both Senegalese Ambassador Fall and journalist Saine
indicated that such collusion was probably ongoing, but Fall
added that he had no concrete evidence. Saine stated that he
was not certain whether Sadio himself was currently in The
Gambia, while asserting that "my sources" had recently
spotted aides to Sadio at President Jammeh's compound in his
native village of Kanilai, located about 90 kilometers to the
east of Banjul.

JAMMEH AS ARMS SUPPLIER, POTENTIAL MEDIATOR
--------------


3. (C) Ambassador mentioned reports that Jammeh was
continuing to supply arms to MFDC hard-liners (e.g., ref a);
our two interlocutors responded that while the Gambian leader
was possibly doing so, they could not corroborate such
reports. Asked about rumors that Jammeh sought to serve as
mediator among MFDC factions, Fall and Saine asserted that
while Jammeh might wish to assume this role, Senegalese
President Wade would not agree to it, at least for the time
being, given his (Wade's) suspicions of Jammeh's intentions.


COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) As in Ambassador's January 3 conversation with Fall
(ref b),he was downbeat about prospects for an early
improvement in the Gambian posture on the Casamance. Since
our earlier discussion, the Senegalese Ambassador has
continued, without success, to request a meeting with Jammeh
to underscore Dakar's frustration over the unhelpful
behavior. Neither Fall nor journalist Saine ruled out the
prospect of ever more serious strains in the
Senegalese/Gambian due to Jammeh's mischief-making. END
COMMENT




STAFFORD