MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISHES ON FELLOW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000530

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER/ESPRUILL)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISHES ON FELLOW
CABINET MEMBERS

REF: A. FREETOWN 524

B. FREETOWN 529

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador and Poloff met with Foreign
Affairs Minister Zainab Bangura on October 30. Bangura
discussed travel schedules, the need for donor coordination,
and outcomes from the President's various recent meetings in
New York and Washington. She also spoke candidly about
challenges within the APC party, including those which
threaten the success of Koroma's administration. She
identified the Attorney General and Minister of Information
and Communication as particular troublemakers within the
Cabinet, both of whom are negatively impacting the
government's efficacy. End Summary.

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TRAVEL, TRAVEL, AND MORE TRAVEL
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2. (C) The Foreign Minister discussed upcoming travel
schedules for herself and President Koroma. Bangura will be
in China November 2-14, Burkina Faso on December 2, and
leaves December 12 for a Peace Building Commission meeting on
the 15th in New York. She intends to be in Freetown for the
month of January, except to attend an African Union summit.
The President may go to Norway December 3, and attend an
ECOWAS summit in Abuja December 18-19, but has yet to confirm
his travel. Bangura noted the Mano River Union Heads of State
Conference, which will be hosted in Freetown December 9-11.

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DONOR COORDINATION
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3. (U) Ambassador reiterated her concern regarding the lack
of sufficient donor coordination in Sierra Leone, stating how
successful sectoral coordination had been at other posts. She
further suggested sectoral Memoranda of Understanding that
clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of each
donor, to prevent duplication of efforts. The Minister was
open to this suggestion, and would like this topic to be
addressed at her next MFA roundtable meeting with the
international Heads of Delegations.

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MEETINGS IN NYC AND DC VIEWED AS SUCCESSFUL
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4. (C) Bangura highlighted the meetings she and the President
attended in New York and Washington, clearly pleased at the
level of attention they received from various parties. She
informed Ambassador that former President Clinton would like
to visit Sierra Leone, and she would inform embassy on
potential dates as soon as they are identified. Television
star Isaiah Washington, who has traced his ancestry to Sierra
Leone, is planning a visit in December, with dates also
forthcoming. The President and Foreign Minister attended a
lunch with the Corporate Council on Africa, which was
favorably received. She would like further assistance in
making possible investment connections. The Minister stated
that AGOA founder Rosa Whitaker also expressed interest in
coming to Freetown.

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CABINET MEMBER FOLLIES
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5. (C) In the context of discussing the ongoing cocaine case
(reftel B),the Foreign Minister spoke frankly about the
conflicted relationship between the President and Attorney
General Abdul Serry-Kamal. She cited the AG as Koroma's
"biggest enemy within the country," a comment based largely
on Serry-Kamal's recent legal case to remove Koroma from his
position as APC leader. Though the case was settled out of
court, little love is lost between Koroma and Serry-Kamal.
Bangura noted that Serry-Kamal was not Koroma's first, or
even second choice for the Attorney General position, and his
performance, particularly regarding the cocaine case, has
been lackluster. Serry-Kamal, according to Bangura, even
sleeps in Cabinet meetings. Despite harsh words for the
Attorney General, Bangura gave no indication that his
position is in jeopardy.


6. (C) Per reftel A, the Foreign Minister raised concerns
about the Minister of Information and Communication
presenting false statements to members of the press. In
particular, she cited his mishandling of a press conference
in which he made statements without authority. At the press

FREETOWN 00000530 002 OF 002


conference, which covered the Commission of Inquiry charged
with investigating misuse of donor funds by the former Kabbah
administration (reftel A),Minister Alhaji Kargbo stated that
former Ministers will not be held responsible for findings of
corruption identified by the Commission. According to
Bangura, corruption cases could be levied depending the
Commission's findings. Given Kargbo's unauthorized statement,
it will be impossible for corruption charges to be brought
without vociferous complaints from the SLPP, which already
considers the Commission a "witch-hunt."

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COMMENT
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7. (C) Bangura's unguarded remarks about fellow Cabinet
Ministers confirmed several theories: (1) Serry-Kamal,
considered by emboffs to be a primary obstacle to the
successful completion of the cocaine case, is known within
the Cabinet to be an undisciplined and ineffective Attorney
General; and (2) the Commission of Inquiry was designed to
identify former corrupt officials for the purpose of
prosecution, as opposed to be merely an exercise of
information-gathering and assignment of toothless blame. The
first point will be discussed septel, while the second point
changes the complexion of party politics in Sierra Leone.
Though mud-slinging is common here, allegations of misdeeds
rarely move beyond finger-pointing. The intent of this
Commission is thus unique, as it targets the past
administration, had the apparent intent of producing
information to enable corruption charges, and would
potentially eliminate still-popular APC rivals. An
interesting question which will likely never be answered is
why Kargbo spoke out of turn and made the Commission another
actor in the typical Sierra Leonean blame-game. End comment.
PERRY