COMORAN PRESIDENT SAMBI'S IRAN TIES ARE UNPOPULAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANTANANARIVO 000759


DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO
DEPT FOR NEA IRAN DESK
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018
TAGS: ASEC PREL PTER CN IR
SUBJECT: COMORAN PRESIDENT SAMBI'S IRAN TIES ARE UNPOPULAR

Classified By: Ambassador Niels Marquardt for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Union of the Comoros President Sambi faces
criticism at home for his efforts to enhance ties with Iran,
mostly because moderate Sunni Comoros is wary of Shi'ism.
Iran has opened a "foundation" office in Moroni to fund
schools and an Iranian Red Crescent clinic. Most Comorans
and in particular Muslim elders are skeptical of Iran's
generosity and unhappy with the direction President Sambi is
leading them in this regard. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Since his election in 2006, Comoran President Sambi
has actively sought closer ties with Iran (where he studied
to become a Muslim cleric in the 1980s). In conversations
with EmbOffs, Sambi always emphasizes that "poor Comoros will
accept help from all friends, but never with strings
attached." At present, Iran has opened a "foundation" office
in Comoros' capital, Moroni, that is funding new school
projects. There is also an Iranian Red Crescent clinic in
Moroni, though it appears to get few visitors. Most
embarrassing for Sambi is a fishing boat donated by Iran
years ago that sits unused; he reportedly wants to get rid of
this "unuseful gift."


3. (C) Following the end of Bacar's regime and the
restoration of Union authority in Anjouan (Sambi's home
island) there were numerous reports that 200-300 Anjouanese
had received scholarships to study in Iran -- in Grande
Comore this is believed to be true and evidence of Iran's
growing influence among Comoran youth. On a recent trip to
Anjouan, Comoros Officer learned these scholarships had been
promised but not yet led to many students departing for
study. Comoran "representatives" of Iran, particularly in
Anjouan, host frequent community banquets. These gestures of
good will are welcomed by the population, but Comoran elders
are concerned with the Shi'a message their Sunni Comoran
people may be exposed to.


4. (C) Comoros is 99 percent Sunni Muslim and distinctly
moderate. President Sambi (who studied both in Saudi Arabia
and in Iran) is believed to be Shi'ite. When a working-level
Iranian delegation recently visited Anjouan with Sambi, there
was a controversy at prayer time. Local Imams walked out of
the Mosque when their Iranian counterparts attempted to
follow the Shi'a, rather than Sunni, prayer rituals. Many
Comorans express concern to us that President Sambi is trying
to convert the Comoros to Shi'ism and a more strident version
of Islam.


5. (C) Another Iranian delegation set off alarm bells when
they approached deputies at the National Assembly to ask what
would have to happen for President Sambi to extend his
mandate (the President's one and only term is set to end in
May, 2010). Word quickly spread that Sambi's Iranian friends
would try to use their influence to keep him in power, and
"advance their interests." Given the National Assembly is
dominated by opposition politicians critical of Sambi, the
Iranian demarche went no where. At present, President Sambi
has announced his intention to hold a constitutional
referendum in 2009; most Comorans fear he will use it to
extend his current mandate. None of the traditional
international partners -- African Union, United Nations, Arab
League, France, South Africa, United States -- is very happy
about the referendum idea and nor willing to fund it. Some
GOC contacts suggested Iran may pay for the referendum.


6. (C) Respected Comoran leaders from the Grand Mufti (a
government-appointed position to safeguard Islamic values) to
former President Azali have expressed concern to us about
increased fundamentalist messages being delivered in the
Comoros. Many Comorans, failing to get scholarships to study
in the west, have attended university in Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, and Sudan (to name a few). Some of these men
returned to the Comoros, established themselves as Imams, and
tried to grow a following. The Grand Mufti and other Muslim
leaders believe most Comorans will quickly reject radical or
Shi'a teachings; but they still worry about the small
minority, lacking hope and opportunity, who may be attracted
to these messages.


7. (C) COMMENT: President Sambi's relationship with Iran
(where he traveled for the first time as President in July,
2008) appears to cause at least as many problems as it
solves. Iranian humanitarian and development work has been
big on promises and somewhat small on impact; so far.
Disappointment over Iran's development assistance only
exacerbates concern among Comorans that their President is
friendly with such a regime. That their President welcomes a
Shi'a presence into their Sunni midst is very troubling to
Comorans and confusing given the country seems to obtain very
little assistance in the bargain. END COMMENT.


MARQUARDT