C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 000732

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY SAEED
AND FRANCOIS BOYE
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/C AND EB
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: KCOR EFIN PREL CM PINR
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: USG SHOULD AVOID ASSOCIATION WITH
FINANCE MINISTER POLYCARPE ABAH ABAH

REF: A. YAOUNDE 445

B. YAOUNDE 402

C. YAOUNDE 356

D. YAOUNDE 229

E. YAOUNDE 227

F. YAOUNDE 179

G. YAOUNDE 174

H. 06 YAOUNDE 1830

I. 06 YAOUNDE 1812

J. 06 YAOUNDE 1811

K. 06 YAOUNDE 1522

L. 06 YAOUNDE 1501

M. 06 YAOUNDE 1491

N. 06 YAOUNDE 396

Classified By: Poloff Tad Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) We believe that fundamental USG interests are
undermined when USG officials -- and those of other groups of
which we are members -- associate publicly with Polycarpe
Abah Abah, Cameroon's current Minister of Economy and Finance
and undisputed paragon of corruption. Abah Abah is a
masterful politician who exploits his interactions with
represenatives of foreign governments and agencies to counter
his abyssmal reputation in Cameroon. In so doing, he also
tarnishs the image of his sometimes unwitting interlocutors,
and their governments, in the eyes of Cameroonians. In order
to advance the fight against corruption and failed governance
(paramount USG priorities in Cameroon), we recommend that USG
officials (and associations to which the USG is a member)
avoid public contact with Abah Abah.


2. (C) The meeting last week of G8 finance ministers in
Germany provides an example where presumably well-meaning
officials invited Abah Abah to participate in a delegation of
African finance ministers. Unfortunately, this invitiation
-- which was not announced beforehand in Yaounde -- had the
perverse effect of bolstering Abah Abah's image in Cameroon
while simulatenously giving rise to questions over the
effectiveness of G8 pledges to fight corruption and bad
governance on the continent. Our German Embassy sources here
reluctantly admit this also reflects an unwillingness on the
part of their Development Minister to face up the difficult
reality here -- or to heed their advice on such topics.


3. (C) Prior to the April World Bank/IMF meetings in
Washington, Abah Abah escaped a finding of ineligibility
under Presidential Proclamation 7750 (section 212f) for high
level corruption only because the Presidency withdrew his
visa application before a finding could be made. We have
information indicating that Abah Abah, a lifelong public
servant, has a personal fortune in foreign accounts exceeding
USD 200 million, and that he continues to embezzle at an
alarming rate. Post has copies of at least two audits that
directly indict Abah Abah's financial stewardship of millions
of dollars in GRC funds during his tenure as the Director of
Taxation. We are currently pursuing a number of different
allegations of even more lucrative corruption in his time at
the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MINEFI). We have
received first-hand testimony of journalists who were bribed
and threatened by Abah Abah to place favorable stories or
censor negative ones. Post will submit an updated Visas
Donkey requesting a 212 (f) ineligibility at the soonest
appropriate time. In the interim, public appearances with
such an individual can do nothing but harm the image and
interests of the USG.


4. (C) For business that must be conducted with MINEFI, the
USG has a palatable Cameroonian interlocutor in Lazare Essimi
Menye, Minister Delegate in Charge of the Budget, who spent
his career working with international financial institutions
in Washington and who is generally perceived to align himself
with reformers within the GRC.


5. (C) We obviously would prefer not to urge the
black-listing of a key member of Cameroon's cabinet, but
overarching USG objectives on anti-corruption require that
the USG distance itself as much as possible from such
extraordinarily unsavory individuals whose corrupt acts have
harmed not only their own societies, but also USG interests.
We also note that President Biya told the Ambassador in April
that he will fire Abah Abah before the election now scheduled
for July 22. Even if Biya does not make good on that promise
(for tactical or other reasons), we believe that mounting
pressure on him to dismiss -- and arrest -- Abah Abah in the
expected post-election reshuffle will make it very hard for
him to do otherwise. Not doing so at that time would expose
Biya's declared war on corruption as a complete sham.
MARQUARDT