Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO539
2008-08-05 09:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT SAMBI'S CAR STONED IN ANJOUAN

Tags:  PGOV ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3452
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAN #0539 2180956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050956Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1494
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000539 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SAMBI'S CAR STONED IN ANJOUAN

REF: ANTAN 479 & 531

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000539

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SAMBI'S CAR STONED IN ANJOUAN

REF: ANTAN 479 & 531


1. (SBU) Police contacts reported Comoran President Ahmed Sambi's
car was stoned by angry protestors in Anjouan August 1.
Presidential security forces fired in the air to disperse the
crowds, who were venting their frustration with acute fuel shortages
(Reftel).


2. (SBU) An Embassy NGO contact in Anjouan expressed little
surprise that Sambi was not welcomed on his home island. The
President's soaring popularity after the March military action in
Anjouan has quickly plummeted, as efforts to rebuild Anjouan and
revitalize Comoros' moribund economy have had little effect to
improve livelihoods. The abrupt cancellation of the Total fuel
contract, leading to the ongoing fuel crisis, appears to have been
the last straw for many Comorans.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: Sambi's "honeymoon" after ousting Colonel Bacar
and restoring Union authority in Anjouan would seem to be over. The
fuel crisis is an all too tangible demonstration of incompetence in
Sambi's Government. President Sambi will reportedly (and shockingly
- although the trip is likely being paid for by the Chinese) attend
the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Given the
Comoros' track record of 20 coups d'etat since 1975, and only recent
establishment of democratic norms, Sambi's absence during this
sensitive period does not appear to be very prudent. END COMMENT.

SIBLEY