Comoros National Assembly Passes (Sort Of) Economic

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000809

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/FO AND AF/E
DEPT FOR EB AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM EINV PREL PGOV CN
SUBJECT: Comoros National Assembly Passes (Sort Of) Economic
Citizenship Law

REF: ANTAN 523


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The diplomatic corps was twice convoked December
3 for contradictory versions of recent events at the National
Assembly on a vote for an "economic citizenship" law. First,
National Assembly President Bounou and Grande Comore Island
President Abdouwahabi (both opposition leaders) told the diplomatic
corps the "dictatorial Sambi regime" had violated procedure to
illegally pass a bill offering Comoran citizenship to wealthy
foreigners. Then, no less than six Union Ministers met the
diplomatic corps to argue the Union Government's case that despite
Bounou's reticence, a majority of Deputies actually voted to pass
the law. It remains to be seen if the law will in fact be
promulgated. END SUMMARY.

Opposition Version...
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2. (SBU) National Assembly President Bounou and Grande Comore Island
President (Governor) Abdouwahabi convoked the diplomatic corps
December 3 to complain of the "dictatorial Sambi regime." The
opposition version was that a recent session of the National
Assembly voted to reject the GOC-sponsored bill on "economic
citizenship." They further asserted that the Assembly Vice
President, with GOC support, reconvened Deputies outside procedure
to "illegally" pass the bill. Bounou vowed to fight against the
promulgation of the law, which he argued was not properly passed.


3. (SBU) Continuing the opposition list of grievances, Abdouwahabi
complained that Sambi had added a color to the national emblem,
replaced the Constitutional Court President in June, replaced state
enterprise directors general in Moheli, allowed the mandates of
island assemblies in Anjouan and Moheli to lapse, and now planned a
constitutional referendum to "consolidate his power." African Union
ResRep Mourad took the opportunity (following the recent visit of AU
Special Envoy Madeira) to ask Abdouwahabi if now were not perhaps
the time to convene the Technical Preparatory Committee (CTP) to
pave the way for Inter-Comoran Dialogue. Abdouwahabi (who in
September refused high-level talks in favor of a technical level
format) refused to send any Grande Comore officials for the CTP,
instead insisting meetings should occur at a high level. (Comment:
Bounou and Abdouwahabi are playing into Sambi's hands. By refusing
dialogue, they give the Union the excuse to ignore the opposition
and push their own agenda. End Comment)

... Union Government Version
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4. (SBU) Later December 3, Minister of Defense (and GOC Cabinet
Director) Dossar, with five other ministers, convoked the diplomatic
corps to share their version. He said 18 deputies out of 33 voted
in favor of the economic citizenship law. Dossar accused Bounou of
being against the law, making a mockery of procedure, and refusing
to allow the majority of deputies to be heard. The GOC recognizes
the second vote, convened by the Assembly Vice President after
Bounou left parliament, at which 14 deputies plus four proxies were
counted as 18 in favor of passing the law. Minister Dossar said the
GOC has officially requested an affidavit from Bounou confirming the
bill passed so that President Sambi can sign it into law.


5. (SBU) When diplomats shared the alternate version from the same
morning, Minister Dossar was dismissive and insisted the Bounou had
lost the confidence of deputies and was likely to be removed as
President. He justified the economic citizenship law as necessary
to promote investment in the Comoros; to offer guarantees to wealthy
foreigners that their capital would be protected. Not full
citizenship, Dossar explained, but a "status" that would offer
special privileges to investors. He suggested that such investors
would get passports, but not get full rights to vote in the
Comoros.

Comoro Gulf Holdings
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6. (SBU) Working closely with the Union Government, the private
Kuwaiti investment group, Comoro Gulf Holdings (CGH) has actively
worked for passage of this law, funding a "fact-finding" trip
(including gifts of laptops and other goodies) for six Deputies to
Kuwait. All voted against the bill in July and now are voting in
favor. The GOC and CGH say the economic citizenship law is purely
to offer guarantees and confidence to investors; with nothing to do
with "4,000 stateless Bedouin families," as appeared to be the case
in the July version of the bill (REFTEL). An estimated 200 Comorans
protested in Moroni December 4 against the economic citizenship
law.


7. (SBU) Comment: A member of the diplomatic corps quipped, "as
usual, the GOC's story is better than the opposition." The GOC

outmaneuvered the hapless Bounou and obstructionist Abdouwahabi.
Neither side appears to have followed legal procedures to the
letter, but the diplomatic corps is persuaded that in fact 18
deputies voted in favor of the law; thus the Union is more in the
right, and the opposition is more in the wrong. Comoran public
opinion remains convinced that thousands of Bedouins could descend
on Moroni any day; the GOC has done no public outreach to assuage
their fears.


8. (SBU) Comment Continued: The motivation behind CGH's advocacy
for this bill is unclear. On the surface and according to their
officials, this is purely to promote investment (including their
own) with assurances and guarantees. However, suspicion looms in
the Comoros that CGH in fact has some reason to seek this law in
order to facilitate passports for thousands of stateless Bedouins.
They deny this, but once passed, it is possible the law could serve
both purposes. Perhaps the assurances CGH really seeks are to
powerful interests in Kuwait to fix their Bedouin problem. End
Comment.

MARQUARDT