Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA1467
2008-07-30 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: YAR'ADUA COMMITTED TO BAKASSI WITHDRAWAL
how-toVZCZCXRO9522 PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #1467/01 2121444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301444Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3494 INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0311 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 9668 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0141 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0358 RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001467
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/ C, ALSO FOR AF/RSA, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS PHUM EAID MOPS PREF MASS SOCI
NI, CM
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: YAR'ADUA COMMITTED TO BAKASSI WITHDRAWAL
REF: A. ABUJA 1337
B. LAGOS 243
C. YAOUNDE 762
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001467
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/ C, ALSO FOR AF/RSA, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS PHUM EAID MOPS PREF MASS SOCI
NI, CM
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: YAR'ADUA COMMITTED TO BAKASSI WITHDRAWAL
REF: A. ABUJA 1337
B. LAGOS 243
C. YAOUNDE 762
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (U) With the August 14 transfer of the Bakassi peninsula
to Cameroon under the Greentree Agreement fast approaching,
the GON has stepped up public statements expressing its
commitment to go ahead with the handover. On July 25,
President Yar'Adua stated at the credentialling of the new
Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, "We must ensure
that the August 14 handover goes ahead, in accordance with
the Greentree Agreement, and then we shall continue to work
together to further strengthen our existing very cordial and
brotherly relations." In a July 28 meeting with Cameroonian
Minister of External Affairs Henri Eyebe Ayissi in Abuja,
Yar'Adua reiterated, "I am pleased that Nigeria and Cameroon
are committed to the Greentree Agreement and see it as a
watershed to deeper economic, social, military relations."
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe told
reporters President Yar'Adua had directed all agencies to
cooperate with their Cameroonian counterparts to ensure the
handover is a "model of how African states can work
together."
2. (U) The Nigerian press, however, claimed that 18 to 24
people were killed on July 24 in a shooting incident between
Cameroonian gendarmes and suspected militants. The gendarmes
reportedly retaliated on July 26, killing 21 suspected
militants. As of July 25, the press reported that more than
3,500 internally displaced people were located in the Ikang
resettlement camp, and that local people feared that violence
will escalate in the area, especially around the towns of
Amoto and Abana. A group calling itself the "Combined Niger
Delta Militants" claimed that it planned to declare a
"Republic of Bakassi" immediately after the handover.
3. (C) On July 28, in a continuation of unhelpful statements
by local politicians, the Cross River State Caucus of the
National Assembly urged the GON to consider "the grave
security implications ... of the handover." Observers note,
however, that the Senate began its Summer recess on July 9,
and that the House of Representatives plans to follow on July
31. Neither House of the National Assembly plans to be in
session during the Bakassi handover.
4. (C) Comment. We should welcome Yar'Adua's public
statement reiterating the GON's commitment to the Greentree
Agreement. This commitment has been criticized by Senators,
who insist that, under the Nigerian constitution, they have
the right to review and ratify treaties. For our part, we
have told our contacts that we view the Greentree agreement
as, not a treaty, but an executive agreement laying out the
modalities of the transfer of authority over Bakassi from the
GON to the GRC (as the agreement itself says). While we
expect more unhelpful calls from Cross River politicians for
Nigeria to back away from its commitments under Greentree, we
see no/no indication that the GON has any intention to do so.
As for the legislators, with the National Assembly on Summer
recess until September 9, we do not expect more than
posturing from them until after the handover is complete.
5. (C) Comment continued: We share Embassy Yaounde's
concern (see ref C) for the security situation both around
and after August 14, and agree on the need for the USG to
encourage dialogue and cooperation between the GON and GOC.
That said, however, we note that, in accordance with the
Greentree agreement, Nigeria withdrew its own armed forces
from the peninsula two years ago, leaving only small
contingents of police there since. There is no way the
Nigerian police will be able to change the situation on the
ground in Bakassi prior to the handover. For its part, the
Nigerian military is, in any case, very heavily committed to
fulfilling both its international peacekeeping role and in
attempting to establish security in the Niger Delta, some 100
ABUJA 00001467 002 OF 002
km to the west of Bakassi. End Comment.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/ C, ALSO FOR AF/RSA, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS PHUM EAID MOPS PREF MASS SOCI
NI, CM
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: YAR'ADUA COMMITTED TO BAKASSI WITHDRAWAL
REF: A. ABUJA 1337
B. LAGOS 243
C. YAOUNDE 762
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (U) With the August 14 transfer of the Bakassi peninsula
to Cameroon under the Greentree Agreement fast approaching,
the GON has stepped up public statements expressing its
commitment to go ahead with the handover. On July 25,
President Yar'Adua stated at the credentialling of the new
Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, "We must ensure
that the August 14 handover goes ahead, in accordance with
the Greentree Agreement, and then we shall continue to work
together to further strengthen our existing very cordial and
brotherly relations." In a July 28 meeting with Cameroonian
Minister of External Affairs Henri Eyebe Ayissi in Abuja,
Yar'Adua reiterated, "I am pleased that Nigeria and Cameroon
are committed to the Greentree Agreement and see it as a
watershed to deeper economic, social, military relations."
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe told
reporters President Yar'Adua had directed all agencies to
cooperate with their Cameroonian counterparts to ensure the
handover is a "model of how African states can work
together."
2. (U) The Nigerian press, however, claimed that 18 to 24
people were killed on July 24 in a shooting incident between
Cameroonian gendarmes and suspected militants. The gendarmes
reportedly retaliated on July 26, killing 21 suspected
militants. As of July 25, the press reported that more than
3,500 internally displaced people were located in the Ikang
resettlement camp, and that local people feared that violence
will escalate in the area, especially around the towns of
Amoto and Abana. A group calling itself the "Combined Niger
Delta Militants" claimed that it planned to declare a
"Republic of Bakassi" immediately after the handover.
3. (C) On July 28, in a continuation of unhelpful statements
by local politicians, the Cross River State Caucus of the
National Assembly urged the GON to consider "the grave
security implications ... of the handover." Observers note,
however, that the Senate began its Summer recess on July 9,
and that the House of Representatives plans to follow on July
31. Neither House of the National Assembly plans to be in
session during the Bakassi handover.
4. (C) Comment. We should welcome Yar'Adua's public
statement reiterating the GON's commitment to the Greentree
Agreement. This commitment has been criticized by Senators,
who insist that, under the Nigerian constitution, they have
the right to review and ratify treaties. For our part, we
have told our contacts that we view the Greentree agreement
as, not a treaty, but an executive agreement laying out the
modalities of the transfer of authority over Bakassi from the
GON to the GRC (as the agreement itself says). While we
expect more unhelpful calls from Cross River politicians for
Nigeria to back away from its commitments under Greentree, we
see no/no indication that the GON has any intention to do so.
As for the legislators, with the National Assembly on Summer
recess until September 9, we do not expect more than
posturing from them until after the handover is complete.
5. (C) Comment continued: We share Embassy Yaounde's
concern (see ref C) for the security situation both around
and after August 14, and agree on the need for the USG to
encourage dialogue and cooperation between the GON and GOC.
That said, however, we note that, in accordance with the
Greentree agreement, Nigeria withdrew its own armed forces
from the peninsula two years ago, leaving only small
contingents of police there since. There is no way the
Nigerian police will be able to change the situation on the
ground in Bakassi prior to the handover. For its part, the
Nigerian military is, in any case, very heavily committed to
fulfilling both its international peacekeeping role and in
attempting to establish security in the Niger Delta, some 100
ABUJA 00001467 002 OF 002
km to the west of Bakassi. End Comment.
SANDERS