Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NIAMEY1160
2008-12-15 15:04:00
SECRET
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:  

NIAMEY EAC - UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCE OF UN

Tags:  ASEC CASC PGOV PREL NG 
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O 151504Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4757
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
S E C R E T NIAMEY 001160 


DEPT FOR DS, INR, DS/IP/AF, AND AF/W
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PREL NG
SUBJECT: NIAMEY EAC - UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCE OF UN
SPECIAL ENVOY

Classified By: RSO Jeffrey A. McGallicher for reasons Section 1.4 (b & d)


S E C R E T NIAMEY 001160


DEPT FOR DS, INR, DS/IP/AF, AND AF/W
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PREL NG
SUBJECT: NIAMEY EAC - UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCE OF UN
SPECIAL ENVOY

Classified By: RSO Jeffrey A. McGallicher for reasons Section 1.4 (b & d)



1. (S) The EAC discussed the unexplained disappearance of
UN Special Envoy Robert Fowler, Special Assistant Louis Guay,
and their unidentified local driver. Fowler and Guay are
both Canadian nationals. The EAC met twice on December 15 to
discuss this; first, as an initial report, and second, to
report back from information gleaned from contacts. The
following is what Mission Niamey knows about the unexplained
disappearance:


A. This is the third trip to Niger this year for Special
Envoy Ambassador Robert Fowler, who was invited by the
Ministry of National Defense.


B. Ambassador Fowler arrived in Niger on Thursday, December
11, 2008.


C. The first two trips to Niger were approved by the GON,
highly publicized, and the GON provided appropriate security.


D. The most recent trip was approved by the GON, was to be
discreet, but not secret, and was to last 10 - 12 days. FAO
coordinated the trip. Ambassador Fowler was to meet with the
Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Ministry of National Defense and members of civil society.
He was also scheduled to attend events related to the 50th
Anniversary of the Republic of Niger on December 18.


E. On December 14, Ambassador Fowler reportedly asked the UN
for a vehicle and driver to take both Louis Guay and him to
the gold mine located near Tera. Tera is located on the
bottle-neck western tip of Niger, south of, or the other side
of the Niger River, near the Niger/Burkina Faso/Mali borders:
Note: One must take a ferry to cross the river.


F. Ambassador Fowler considered this trip to be personal
business and did not coordinate the trip with the GON, the
UN, or the Canadian Embassy.


G. Neither the UN nor the GON knew of, or apparently
approved the trip.


H. Ambassador Fowler reportedly arrived safely at the gold
mine. The group reportedly departed the gold mine at 1600
hours local on December 14, presumably to drive back to
Niamey. They arrived at the ferry crossing around 1640 hours.


I. At 1640 hours, Guy Villeneuve, the Canadian Chief of
Mission, was in cell phone contact with Special Assistant
Louis Guay, a personal friend of Guy. Guy stated the two had
coordinated dinner plans for December 14 at 1930 hours. Guy
assumed that since Louis was at the ferry crossing, he would
easily be in Niamey by 1930 hours.


J. Guy became concerned when Louis failed to arrive for
dinner as planned, and contacted Louis's hotel at 2240 hours,
learning that Louis had not yet arrived at the hotel.


K. Sometime later, Guy contacted the UN and the UN made
appropriate GON notifications.


L. About 0200 hours on December 15, the local police located
the UN vehicle. The police apparently were only aware that a
UN vehicle was missing, and were not aware that the people
inside the vehicle were also missing. The police, believing
their mission complete, took possession of the vehicle and
drove it to their police station. (Note: The vehicle bore
UN license plates, but it did not have any prominent UN
markings on the side of the vehicle. End note.)


M. Reports indicated that at 0500 hours, when the police
learned that the occupants were also missing, they, along
with the Gendarmes, drove the vehicle back to the place where
they had originally located it, and parked it as they had
found it. Reportedly, the vehicle was found parked on the
right-hand side of the road, with its motor running, its
right turn-signal engaged, and three cell phones, along with
a camera, inside. Additionally, all reports indicate that
nothing was apparently stolen or missing from the inside of
the vehicle. Reports indicate the cell phones belonged to
Ambassador Fowler, Louis Guay and the driver.


N. The GON is investigating and the UN is conducting a
background investigation on the driver. The GON and UN will
provide updates as additional information becomes available.



2. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor the situation and
provide appropriate updates as they become available, and
will adjust its security posture as needed.


ALLEN