CAMEROON: SABGA MEN STILL CAMPED AT EMBASSY, HOPE

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001080 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C, DRL LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS EUCOM FOR J5-1 AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF PGOV CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: SABGA MEN STILL CAMPED AT EMBASSY, HOPE FOR RESOLUTION REF: YAOUNDE 1061 MARKED PARAGRAPH IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU). NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE USG. ¶1. (U) The delegation of men from Sabga have maintained their presence outside the Embassy since August 20. Although their numbers fluctuate as they receive visitors and members of the community bring them food and water, a core group of around 12 is always present and their total number fluctuates between 20 and 25. ¶2. (U) Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara called Charge on August 29 to ask whether the group was still in front of the Embassy. ¶3. (U) The local stringer for the British Broadcasting Service interviewed members of the group on the evening of August 28. In response to a BBC phone query the next day, the Embassy Information Officer responded: "It is the strong hope of the United States of America that the situation in the Sabga community can be resolved peacefully, without resort to violence, and in keeping with the wishes of the people of Sabga and the laws and customs of Cameroon." ¶4. (SBU) On August 29, four men from the group were summoned to the offices of the Delegue General pour la Surete National (DGSN),the Minister-level official in charge of the police. According to the men, the DGSN offered them about $3,000 in local currency "for hotel rooms." He said he was acting under orders from the Presidency (to which he reports directly) and would take steps to have the police in the Northwest Province, where Sabga is located, intervene to resolve the dispute. Importantly, the DGSN said he had given orders to cancel an installation ceremony for the contentious Lamido heretofore supported by the government, Mahmuda Sabga, which had been scheduled for August 31. Adamou Bouba, the candidate for Lamido supported by the group outside the Embassy, expressed optimism that a resolution might be at hand. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. We are guardedly optimistic that the intervention of the DGSN could mean a resolution is possible. If he is indeed acting on orders from the Presidency, it could be the political weight needed to break the prevailing standoff. The group outside the Embassy remains peaceful, calm, and gushingly thankful for what they perceive to be the Embassy's graciousness in allowing them to camp on an adjoining sidewalk. Our optimism is guarded, however, because we recall that Alhadji Baba Amadou Donpullo, the backer of rival Lamido and a longtime protagonist of the Fulani, has proven himself willing to use extreme means to enact his plans on the region, and he retains significant influence at the highest level of government (reftels). End comment. NELSON