Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO531
2008-07-30 13:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
COMORANS PROTEST ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE
how-toVZCZCXRO9438 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHAN #0531 2121326 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301326Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1484 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000531
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: COMORANS PROTEST ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE
REF: ANTAN 479
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000531
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: COMORANS PROTEST ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE
REF: ANTAN 479
1. (U) Hundreds of Comorans took to the streets of Moroni this week
to protest acute fuel shortages. The demonstrators, many of them
taxi drivers, remained peaceful and carried banners critical of
President Sambi.
2. (SBU) EmbOffs (who visited the Comoros July 23-30) found fuel
virtually unavailable in Moroni, with their rental car having only a
quarter tank for a week-long visit. There is virtually no fuel
remaining in the Comoros; dwindling stocks of gas and diesel are
held at the Port of Moroni or traded on the black market.
Electricity, already a chronic problem in the Comoros, is available
only two or three hours in 24. Public water is limited to when the
power is on. The Port operator told EmbOffs his emergency stock is
almost gone - when he runs out in the next week, he will have to
suspend Port operations. Given Comoros imports everything, the
impact will be immediate. The operator has also provided some fuel
to the main hospital in Moroni.
3. (SBU) The Port operator said rumors about a tanker en route to
the Comoros from Tanzania are false. He said no purchase contract
has been signed; after which at least four more days will be
required for the shipment. Protestors blame Sambi for cancelling
the fuel contract with the French oil giant TOTAL before putting in
place a new arrangement (REFTEL).
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Lack of fuel and spiking food prices are a
dangerous mix and Sambi's government has certainly earned the
criticism for having abandoned an imperfect arrangement before
putting in place a better one. The reports that no relief is
imminent are worrisome because they raise the specter that peaceful
protest could boil into a serious public security at some point in
the future. ENS COMMENT.
SIBLEY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: COMORANS PROTEST ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE
REF: ANTAN 479
1. (U) Hundreds of Comorans took to the streets of Moroni this week
to protest acute fuel shortages. The demonstrators, many of them
taxi drivers, remained peaceful and carried banners critical of
President Sambi.
2. (SBU) EmbOffs (who visited the Comoros July 23-30) found fuel
virtually unavailable in Moroni, with their rental car having only a
quarter tank for a week-long visit. There is virtually no fuel
remaining in the Comoros; dwindling stocks of gas and diesel are
held at the Port of Moroni or traded on the black market.
Electricity, already a chronic problem in the Comoros, is available
only two or three hours in 24. Public water is limited to when the
power is on. The Port operator told EmbOffs his emergency stock is
almost gone - when he runs out in the next week, he will have to
suspend Port operations. Given Comoros imports everything, the
impact will be immediate. The operator has also provided some fuel
to the main hospital in Moroni.
3. (SBU) The Port operator said rumors about a tanker en route to
the Comoros from Tanzania are false. He said no purchase contract
has been signed; after which at least four more days will be
required for the shipment. Protestors blame Sambi for cancelling
the fuel contract with the French oil giant TOTAL before putting in
place a new arrangement (REFTEL).
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Lack of fuel and spiking food prices are a
dangerous mix and Sambi's government has certainly earned the
criticism for having abandoned an imperfect arrangement before
putting in place a better one. The reports that no relief is
imminent are worrisome because they raise the specter that peaceful
protest could boil into a serious public security at some point in
the future. ENS COMMENT.
SIBLEY