USAU: AU PSC MINISTERIAL TAKES STRONG STAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 003450 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN MR AU SUBJECT: USAU: AU PSC MINISTERIAL TAKES STRONG STAND AGAINST MAURITANIA COUP Classified By: Ambassador John Simon for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request in paragraph ¶6. ¶2. (U) Summary: At an African Union Peace and Security Council Ministerial meeting on December 22, the AU agreed to take concrete measures against the coup leaders who overthrew the legitimate government of Mauritania. Specifically, the AU decided to implement targeted sanctions, including visa denials, travel restrictions, and asset freezes, against all the members of the coup and their supporters as of February 5 if constitutional order is not restored, and requested that all members of the AU, the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the International Organization of the Francophonie, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the European Union to be seized with the matter. End Summary ¶3. (U) In discussions prior to the meeting, the AU Commission made clear its desire for the outcome of the ministerial to be an unambiguous rebuke of the coup. In its strongly-worded report issued to the PSC, the Commission recommended that the PSC "take a firm stand in the face of the resurgence of the phenomenon of coup d'etat in Africa." The AU Commission report recommended three specific measures: suggesting the heads of state who comprise the Assembly of the Union ask legitimate President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi to appoint the country's representatives to the next AU Summit in Addis Ababa, considering the imposition of sanctions targeted at the coup leaders and their supporters if no progress is made by February 5, and asking the UNSC to be seized with the matter and consider additional measures. ¶4. (C) According to several of our interlocutors, the PSC felt these recommended measures were not strong enough. Rather than consider imposing sanctions in the future, the PSC agreed to the targeted sanctions at the meeting, to be implemented by February 5 if constitutional order is not restored. The sanctions are to cover "all individuals, both civilian and military, whose activities are designed to maintain the unconstitutional status quo in Mauritania." The PSC also suggested that the UN Security Council should impose similar measures "to impart to them a universal character." The PSC noted the release of President Abdallahi from house arrest, but made clear that this action "is not sufficient for a return to constitutional order." At a press conference following the meeting, Peace and Security Commissioner Lamamra stated: "We are appealing to the International Community to support the African Union. We want to discourage people from taking power illegitimately." ¶5. (C) Comment: The final outcome of the meeting on Mauritania was by no means assured at the outset. The meeting went several hours past its scheduled time. One item of contention was whether the representative of the legitimate President, Sidi Mohammed Amajar, would be allowed to address the gathering, which he ultimately was. In the coming days, we will seek additional information on the dynamics in the room. End Comment. ¶6. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests that Washington consider issuing a statement lauding the strong stand of the AU PSC against the coup in Mauritania. ¶7. (U) Begin text of Communique The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU),at its 163rd meeting, held at the ministerial level in Addis Ababa, on 22 December 2008, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania following the 6 August 2008 coup d,Etat in that country: Council, Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (PSC/MIN/COMM.3(CLXIII)) and the outcome of the consultations with the various Mauritanian parties, as well as those of consultative and coordination meetings held at the initiative of the Commission between the AU, the League of Arab States, the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF),the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC),the United Nations, and the European Union (EU) in Addis Ababa, on 10 and 21 November 2008. Council also takes note of the briefings by the representatives of the United Nations, EU, OIF, as well ADDIS ABAB 00003450 002 OF 003 as the one by a representative of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi; Further takes note of the results of the high level mission to Mauritania, led by the AU, on 6 and 7 December 2008, particularly the commitment of General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to release President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi without conditions, by 24 December 2008 at the latest; Takes note of the release of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi and considers that this development partially responds to the demands of the international community but is not sufficient for a return to constitutional order; Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission and the Commissioner for Peace and Security to continue to deploy efforts towards the return to constitutional legality in Mauritania; Expresses its deep concern with the lack of political will and the obstinance to remain in power despite the efforts deployed to date with a view to facilitating the return to constitutional legality in Mauritania; Recalls the relevant provisions of Communiqu PSC/MIN/Comm.2 (CLI) adopted at its 151st meeting held in New York, on 22 September 2008. In this regard, Council reiterates its firm condemnation of the coup d,Etat and all measures taken by its authors to consolidate the situation born out from this coup d,Etat and reiterates the legitimacy of the constitutional order represented by the democratically elected institutions from the legislative and presidential elections respectively held in November 2006 and March 2007; Recalls also the provisions of the Communiqu of its 156th meeting, held on 11 November 2008, which, inter alia, requests the Commission to submit to it, as soon as possible, concrete measures to be put in place on the basis of Communiqu PSC/MIN/Comm.2 (CLI) cited above and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Lom Declaration of July 2000 on Unconstitutional Changes of Government; Further recalls relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act, Decision AHG/142 (XXXV) adopted Algiers in July 1999, the Lom Declaration of July 2000 and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, as well as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance ratified by Mauritania last July, thereby becoming the first Member State party to this instrument; Decides that, pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the Lome Declaration of July 2000 and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, if by 5 February 2009, constitutional order is not restored, Council will impose measures, including targeted sanctions, in particular visa denials, travel restrictions and freezing of assets, to all individuals, both civilian and military, whose activities are designed to maintain the unconstitutional status quo in Mauritania. Council also decides to communicate the said measures to the UN Security Council for it to impart to them a universal character, in light of the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement of 19 August 2008; Underlines the importance of the support of the international community to reinforce the effectiveness of the action of the AU. In this respect, Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to formally seize all Member States of the AU, the United Nations, the League of the Arab States, the OIF, the OCI, the EU and all other actors concerned with the view to requesting their support in the framework of the continuous efforts aimed at facilitating the return to constitutional order; Decides also to communicate the present decision to the UN Security Council for it to continue, in the light of its Presidential Statement of 19 August 2008, to actively support the current efforts of the African Union; Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission to pursue his efforts with the Mauritanian parties and his consultations with partner international organizations of the AU with the view to promoting the return to constitutional order in Mauritania within the deadline stipulated in the Lome Declaration; ADDIS ABAB 00003450 003 OF 003 Decides to remain seized of the matter. End text of Communique. YAMAMOTO