Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO523
2008-07-29 09:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

COMOROS REJECTS CITIZENSHIP BILL FOR STATELESS ARABS

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1475
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0003
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
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UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000523 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM CN
SUBJECT: COMOROS REJECTS CITIZENSHIP BILL FOR STATELESS ARABS

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000523

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM CN
SUBJECT: COMOROS REJECTS CITIZENSHIP BILL FOR STATELESS ARABS


1. (U) The Union of the Comoros' Parliament recently rejected a bill
that would confer Comoran citizenship on people in exchange for
financial investment in the real estate market. According to
Comoran Vice President Idi Nadhoim, in 1997 the Kuwaiti Government
approached the Comoros with a proposal to grant approximately 4,000
families of stateless Arabs from certain tribes residing in Kuwait,
who are known as "bedoon," Comoran citizenship under a plan that
could have brought the state as much USD 100 million. Idi claims
the Kuwaiti government also approached Bangladesh, Djibouti and
Senegal with a similar proposition. The Comoran Government had
promoted the draft law as a means to attract and naturalize foreign
investors "without obligation of habitual residence in the Comoros."
Applicants would first apply through the Federal Bank of Commerce
or Kuwaiti company Comoro Gulf Holdings, who would vet their
proposals to invest in the real estate market.

2. (U) Several lawmakers had supported the proposals, arguing that
most bedoon families find themselves in an extremely irregular
situation. Depending on the country, the bedoon -- whose population
estimates ranges from 70,000 to 120,000 in Kuwait; 10,000 to 100,000
in the United Arab Emirates; and an unknown number in Saudi Arabia
-- may not be entitled to hold passports, work, obtain birth
certificates, or even have marriage certificates attested. But the
Comoran opposition in parliament attacked the project, saying it
amounted to "auctioning off our nationality." The former President
of the Constitutional Court privately expressed the concern to
Ambassador Marquardt that this program would be "demographic
suicide" for the isolated Comoros. The "economic citizenship" bill
was outright rejected in a stormy extraordinary session of
parliament.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: In a private meeting with Ambassador Marquardt,
Vice President Idi called the bill the latest example of poor
communication within Sambi's administration. The project was
reportedly initiated following meetings between the Emir of Kuwait
Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and President Sambi, who reportedly
presented the bill without fully consulting his advisors to assess
the potential pitfalls. Idi complained, "The President won't
consult anyone. People don't give him good advice. They stay
quiet. We have communication problems amongst ourselves. The
President is isolated." But Post notes that Sambi's presidency has
been marked by aggressive and reasonably successful attempts to
strengthen relationships and secure pledges of assistance from
friendly countries. Oil-rich Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates have been among the main economic partners and
political allies of the Comoros since President Sambi came to power
in 2006. END COMMENT.

SIBLEY