NIGERIA: KEY POINTS FROM GENERAL WARD'S VISIT -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001398

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FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/W, AND EB
PASS TO AFRICOM LANIER
PASS TO NSC PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EFIN EINV MASS MARR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: KEY POINTS FROM GENERAL WARD'S VISIT -
DARFUR, AFRICOM

REF: REFS: (A) SILSKI-PFLAUMER JULY 16 EMAIL (B)
STATE 70257 (C) ABUJA 1347 (D) ABUJA 1356

Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) The Ambassador and visiting Africa Commander General
Ward had a private meeting on July 23 with Nigerian Foreign
Minister Ojo Maduekwe (FonMin) at his home on the margins of
the 2008 AFRICA Endeavor exercise. The FonMin had returned
late on the evening of July 22 from a recently convened
meeting in Addis Ababa of the African Union (AU) Peace and
Security (PS) committee (which Nigeria chairs) on the
indictment of Sudan's leader by the International Criminal
Court (ICC). General Ward also met on July 22 with the
Government of Nigeria's (GON) Minister of Defense and Chief
of Defense Staff, and on July 23 with the ECOWAS leadership.
The General also noted during his visit with interlocutors
that he prefers to use the term Africa Command vice AFRICOM.
Below follows a summary of the FonMin session, and the GON
courtesy meetings with the military, civilian and flag
officer leadership.


2. (C) During the July 23 breakfast meeting with Nigerian
Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe, the main points covered were:

-- Sudan/Bashir/ICC: The FonMin said that the special session
of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security (PS) committee
on July 21-22 proved quite difficult as members were tough on
Sudan's Justice Minister, who represented Sudanese President
Bashir at the session. Maduekwe said he noted to the
Sudanese Justice Minister that "sovereignty was not an excuse
for not protecting the lives of the Sudanese population in
Darfur." He commented that in the future -- once the 12
month deferment allowed by the Treaty of Rome passes -- he
thought the PS would recommend stronger action against Sudan
and Bashir if things had not improved. It would be hard for
AU members, like Nigeria, not to publicly support the ICC
decision after that he added. Maduekwe highlighted that in
addition to Nigeria's strong position, many others on the PS
voiced the same sentiment, although he did not elaborate on
which members.

-- Niger Delta demarche: On points provided to the FonMin on
the Ambassador's July 11 and subsequent July 14 demarche to
President Yar'Adua on Delta issues regarding what the USG had
offered to date to the GON as well as other possible
reimbursable opportunities, Maduekwe said he had requested an
inter-ministerial session (Defense, NSA, etc.) to discuss
these options. Ambassador also noted to the FonMin that
during General Ward's visit she had also verbally provided
the demarche points to the Minister of Defense and the Chief
of Defense on July 22. The Ambassador noted she looked
forward to hearing what came out of the inter-ministerial
session, and added that once any sort of official GON
response is received many of the things in the demarche can
require a long lead time (ref a). On UN Special Envoy
Gambari, Maduekwe remarked that he had a good meeting with
Yar'Adua in London, and that the former will likely still try
to assist behind the scenes on Niger Delta issues.

-- AFRICOM: FonMin continued his positive position on the
Africa Command and said that Nigeria agreed with the U.S. on
the benefits the Command can bring to Nigeria-U.S. military
cooperation. He highlighted again the need to: better
educate the Nigerian public and others in his government on
the role of the Command; continue high level efforts on the
USG side to dispel the perceptions in the Nigerian context
that AFRICOM was an effort to militarize Africa in general
and Nigeria in particular; and work as partners in an effort
to address these issues. For his part, General Ward covered
the reasons, background and partnership goals of AFRICOM, and
highlighted the interagency aspects of the Command as well as
the ability he has, as a Combatant Commander, to ensure that
Africa not only has more visibility but also that African
issues are addressed more effectively in the U.S. military
resource, training, and programmatic context.


3. (C) In the other military meetings not related to the
Africa Endeavor exercise, General Ward and his team met on
July 22 with the Minister of Defense and his senior staff,

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and the Chief of Defense Staff and representatives of the
Service Chiefs; and, later on July 23 with the ECOWAS Vice
President as well as the Head of ECOWAS Operations and their
teams. In all these meetings, General Ward covered the
points noted above in the FonMin meetings on AFRICOM. He
underscored our efforts to help and assist Nigeria as
friends, encouraging more partnership in areas such as
naval/maritime issues, training, capacity building, and
professionalism. The Nigerian civilian and military leaders
all lauded the goals and purpose of the Africa Command, but
that public diplomacy with other elements of the GON, press
and public still needed to be done to educate them to better
appreciate the role of AFRICOM. Of note, the Minister of
Defense agreed to work with us to try to help build better
awareness, purpose, and appreciation for the role of the
Africa Command, while the Chief of Defense Staff -- although
more than fully onboard with the enhanced cooperation AFRICOM
brings to U.S.-Nigerian military relations -- noted that the
responsibility to address the public relations issues on
AFRICOM rest primarily on our shoulders.


4. (C) The representatives of the Service Chiefs briefed on
several cooperation issues they wished addressed, mostly
ranging from large platform equipment needs for the navy and
air force, and a larger leadership role in strategic planning
for the African Partnership Station (APS). In addition, Rear
Admiral OS Ibrahim, Chief of Navy Operations and Training,
showed a fair amount of sensitivity to the "lack of
appreciation" in his view of "Nigeria's significant naval
prowess," noting that given the country's leadership role in
the sub-region it should be more involved in strategic
planning for APS, including having a staff position on board.
(Note: The GON has been consistently either late/missing
deadlines for slot determinations or never responding to APS
invitations. We will see if this dialogue improves their
record to increase participation and be more responsive. We
are very engaged in the process of encouraging them to do
more on APS through the TDY naval liaison officer at post and
have followed up on key APS issues and opportunities since
the July 22 meetings. In addition, their navy is less
capable than their egos would allow them to admit.)


5. (C) As a follow-up to all meetings, letters were sent to
the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff on
where our cooperation efforts are as well as responses (such
as choosing a freight-forwarding agent for requested U.S.
military and Somalia-bound equipment) that remain pending
from the GON side. The Ambassador took the opportunity at
meetings with the Nigerian military and civilian leadership
noted above to cover demarche points noted in ref b on what
the U.S. could possibly assist with regarding the Niger
Delta. General Ward noted that meetings with ECOWAS
leadership and operational experts were also fruitful and
productive.


6. (U) General Ward departed prior to the drafting of this
summary report.
SANDERS