CAMEROON: SABGA MEN LEAVE EMBASSY WITH PM'S

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001088 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C, DRL/AA, PRM/AFR 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 PINR CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON: SABGA MEN LEAVE EMBASSY WITH PM'S ASSURANCES REF: A. YAOUNDE 1080 ¶B. YAOUNDE 1061 ¶C. YAOUNDE 1049 ¶D. YAOUNDE 1044 ¶1. (SBU) Sabga community members camped outside the Embassy for eleven days departed without incident in the early evening on August 31. Earlier in the day, Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni called Charge to advise that he had met with representatives of the group and that they would be returning home later the same day. The PM also said he was contacting the Governor of the Northwest Province with an instruction to ensure the safety of "the Mbororo" (a reference to the Sabga community members). ¶2. (SBU) Before their departure, the Sabga community representatives delivered to Charge a copy of a letter from the PM's Secretary General to the Minister of Territorial Administration, who has jurisdiction over the installation of traditional leaders nationwide under Cameroonian law. The letter made reference to the violence that followed the installation of a new Lamido (chief) against the expressed wishes of community representatives (see reftels),and transmitted the PM's order suspending the installation of that candidate and setting up a formal inquiry process to definitively resolve the matter. ¶3. (SBU) Charge thanked the PM for his decisive action, saying it was very much in keeping with the Embassy's position encouraging a just and peaceful outcome of the situation. ¶4. (SBU) The Sabga representatives told poloff as they prepared to depart the Embassy that they were pleased with the outcome, which they credited to the efforts of Embassy officials. At no time did our visitors request refuge inside the Embassy's gates, nor did they cause any disturbance outside the gates. They conducted Muslim religious observances without interference throughout their stay. Embassy officers will continue to follow up on this case as developments occur in the Sabga community. NELSON