NIGER: MIST SPORTS CARAVAN SCORES BIG AGAIN

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001181 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED STATE FOR AF/RSA AND AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PROP PREL SCUL NGO SUBJECT: NIGER: MIST SPORTS CARAVAN SCORES BIG AGAIN REF: A. 06 NIAMEY 1106 B. 06 Niamey 898 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The 16-day Military Information Support Team (MIST) sports caravan/tolerance campaign, lauded by local authorities for its timeliness, reiterated last year's theme "One Family, One Niger." Insecurity in the northern region of Agadez prevented the Nigerien junior girls and junior boys national teams from making a caravan stop there, but tens of thousands of Nigeriens at eight localities in the seven other regions of Niger enthusiastically welcomed the youth teams, the Ambassador's (AMB) delegation and a cultural group (Troupe Artistique Mourna) with their messages of tolerance. Broad media (radio, television, print) coverage of every caravan stop provided outreach to hundreds of thousands. The Embassy commends the MIST for its thorough preparation and professionalism in coordinating this tremendously successful activity with Embassy personnel. End summary. ¶2. (U) Nigeriens across the country, including the Government (GON) President, expressed effusive appreciation for the sports caravan and the theme of tolerance at a time when the majority of the population is calling for an end to the violence in northern Niger. The caravan also provided an opportunity for the youth team members to travel some 6000 kilometers around Niger, for many the first time to travel outside of the Niamey capital area. Preceded by MIST, which passed out caravan-related materials (T-shirts, notebooks, water bottles, etc.) to youth in small villages between caravan stops, the Regional Security Office, Public Affairs Office and Development Assistance Office accompanied Ambassador on the caravan. (Note: Ambassador also took advantage of the caravan stops to visit Embassy special self-help projects and discuss a range of issues with local officials and groups, such as concerns about security in northern Niger, Embassy's democracy fund sponsored decentralization training, food security and the status of tensions that occurred several months ago between indigenous sedentary groups and nomadic herders in eastern Niger. End note.) ¶3. (U) The sports caravan performed in eight localities in seven of the eight regions in Niger. It has gained such popularity that other sports federations and local community groups have asked to participate in the event as well. For example, at a couple of locations the Nigerien Judo Federation provided demonstrations, at other locations youth recited peace-inspired poems and in yet other locations youth and/or adult groups performed dance routines to drums. ¶4. (SBU) The MIST remains an integral part of the Embassy country team, with full participation in post activities and representational functions. The following MIST members merit special recognition for outstanding work on the caravan: SSG Brad A. Thill (team leader) SGT Joshua Hammond (assistant team leader) SPC Carlos Sanchez (specialist) SPC Natasha Miller (specialist) ¶5. (U) The total attendance for the caravan approximated some 60,000 and reached hundreds of thousands through broad media coverage (Note: Ambassador provided radio and TV interviews at the various caravan stops. Caravan attendees included regional GON officials (governors, prefets, mayors),traditional chiefs, civil society groups and youth. As was the case in past caravan phases, the tolerance-related skits performed in local languages (e.g., Hausa, Zarma) by the Troupe Artistique Mourna remain extremely popular. ¶6. (U) The next phase of the caravan, scheduled for November, will use traditional wresting (Greco-roman style wrestling that is the most popular sport in Niger) as a vehicle and we anticipate it will draw much larger audiences than past caravan phases. Embassy country team looks forward to supporting this activity that will use as a theme the "fight against corruption." ALLEN