CAMEROON: COUP JITTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 001315 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C AND INL/C EUCOM FOR J5-1 AND POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017 TAGS: CM KCOR MOPS PGOV PINR PREL SUBJECT: CAMEROON: COUP JITTERS REF: YAOUNDE 1235 (NOTAL) Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e) ¶1. (C) Summary. In an October 30 meeting with the Ambassador, the Dutch and British Chiefs of Mission said they would report to their capitals the allegations of a coup attempt or staged coup attempt in Cameroon. The source of this information is of questionable reliability and coup rumors are nothing new here. While we do not have information to suggest an impending coup, we are struck by the level of concern among our diplomatic colleagues and will monitor the situation carefully. Summary. -------------- Dutch, UK, Italians Report Coup Rumblings -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Garvey met October 30 with the COMs from the Dutch, Italian and British Embassies, at the request of the Dutch COM, to discuss rumors of a coup or concocted coup planned for the week of October 22. The source of the information is French/Cameroonian citizen Francis Dooh Collins, Minister of Justice Amadou Ali's point person for international corruption investigations (reftel). ¶3. (C) The Dutch COM reported Dooh Collins as saying that the concocted coup attempt was an effort by those who oppose Ali (and are targeted by his corruption investigation) to "smoke out" Ali and his allies. This anti-Ali group is reportedly led by Minister of Defense Remy Ze Meka. ¶4. (C) The Dutch COM gives credence to Collins' story for the following reasons: -- The Dutch COM said that 30 individuals from the northern provinces have been detained in response to the reports of a coup/concocted coup plot. (Note: We have no information to confirm this. End note.) -- The Dutch COM said that before departing Yaounde for Paris (on October 22) Biya consulted with the Israeli Colonel who serves as his security advisor and trains the Presidential Guard. The Colonel reportedly advised Biya that it was safe to travel. -- The Dutch COM claimed to have tested Dooh Collins with questions which Dooh Collins could have answered only if he was close to Biya and Ali. Collins reportedly answered correctly. -------------- Other Machinations -------------- ¶5. (C) The Dutch and British COMs averred that Ali's anti-corruption investigation has been turned into an effort to weaken President Biya's political enemies in the run-up to presidential elections anticipated in 2011. The Dutch COM anticipates another Cabinet shuffle in March 2008, in which PM Inoni will be replaced by current A/SG at the Presidency Philomen Yang, and then a subsequent shuffle. Secretary General at the Presidency Laurent Esso is also reportedly involved in this power struggle. The Dutch COM said Esso's ill-gotten wealth derives from a relationship he has with French oil firm Total. -------------- The French Disconnection -------------- ¶6. (C) Dutch and UK COMs asserted that the French Embassy must be kept out of the loop on the Collins information, ostensibly because of French commercial ties to some of the alleged protagonists. The Dutch and British Embassies here will include special handling instructions on their reports to their capitals to indicate the information should not be shared with French nationals. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) This particular information comes from one source, Dooh Collins, whom we know to be of less than certain credibility. Nevertheless, our colleagues in other Missions are taking this information seriously, and we have heard other rumors of coup plotting over the November 3-4 weekend. Coup rumors are not uncommon in Cameroon and we have no information to suggest a coup is in the works. We would not be surprised, however, if there is some rumbling in the political background here. Biya survived an attempted coup in 1984 (that affected him deeply) and coup plotting in 1989 (that resulted in a cabinet shuffle to beef up the security forces). The President's September 7 shuffle dismissed a number of powerful and rich individuals who are unlikely to seek quiet retirement. The anniversary of Biya's twenty-fifth year in power on November 6 has fueled renewed cynicism in the media and in the general public. We will continue to monitor the political scene carefully over the coming days. End comment. GARVEY