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