Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NIAMEY310
2008-03-12 15:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:  

NIGER: OPTIMISM ABOUT THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE

Tags:  PINS MOPS ASEC PGOV NG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3005
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0310 0721549
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121549Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4186
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3435
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0660
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000310 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PINS MOPS ASEC PGOV NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: OPTIMISM ABOUT THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE

REF: A. NIAMEY 277

B. NIAMEY 81

C. 07 NIAMEY 1217

D. 07 NIAMEY 625

Classified By: AMBASSADOR BERNADETTE M. ALLEN, REASON: 1.4 a/b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000310

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PINS MOPS ASEC PGOV NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: OPTIMISM ABOUT THE PROSPECT FOR PEACE

REF: A. NIAMEY 277

B. NIAMEY 81

C. 07 NIAMEY 1217

D. 07 NIAMEY 625

Classified By: AMBASSADOR BERNADETTE M. ALLEN, REASON: 1.4 a/b/d


1. (C) Summary. On March 12, Ambassador Allen met with the
Government of Niger (GON) High Commissioner for the
Restoration of Peace, Mohamed Anacko, to discuss the
Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ) release of 25
hostages (ref A) and whether it was an opening for the GON to
negotiate with MNJ. Anacko was very upbeat and stated that
he believes the prospect for peace is extremely good. He said
the change in the GON tone is making it possible for
dialogue. He believes Tandja's decision to travel to the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit in Dakar, his
first trip out of the country in the past twelve months, is
an indicator that Tandja is more at ease and perhaps
optimistic that peace will soon reign in the north. End
summary.


2. (C) Anacko reported that he discussed the ongoing
rebellion with his close friend, Finance Minister Ali
Mahamane Lamine Zeine, even made a personal plea to Zeine to
try to move the President towards negotiations with MNJ.
Anacko said Zeine initially expressed hesistance about
engaging Tandja on a matter outside his portfolio, but Anacko
insisted that for the good of the country, Zeine as one of
Tandja's confidants should engage him because he remains one
of the few persons able to sway Tandja's decisionmaking. He
also informed Zeine that he had learned of the possibility
that MNJ would make a goodwill gesture to the GON by
releasing a number of hostages. (Note: Few Nigeriens have
mentioned the Libyan role in the hostage release, beyond the
name of the Foundation that escorted the hostages back to
Niamey. End note.)


3. (C) The fact that the hostage release did occur put Anacko
on more solid footing with Tandja. He noted that for the
first time in several months, Tandja accepted his phone call,
that he's certain Tandja already was aware at the time of his
call that the hostages would soon be released. He said
Tandja was in good spirits and he sensed that Zeine's
discussion with Tandja did a lot of good. Anacko noted that
the mood across the country has changed, that most Nigeriens
are tired of the insecurity and are more verbal about the
need for the GON to negotiate. He pointed out the GON tone
has changed, that GON Prime Minister Seini Oumarou's remarks
about the release of the hostages did not mention "bandits or
criminals", as had been the norm when referring to MNJ.


4. (C) When asked whether Tandja's decision to travel to the
OIC Summit was a sign that he's at ease and hopeful that
hostilities in the north would soon end, Anacko responded in
the affirmative. He said Tandja had not attended other
important summits in the past year, such as the Brussels,
ECOWAS and African Union summits, so the fact that he chose
to be absent from Niger at this time to attend the OIC Summit
was encouraging. He said most people were caught by surprise
by the sudden travel, that there are lots of discussion about
this around Niamey. (Note: It appears most people do not
believe, as was headlined in the government newspaper "Le
Sahel", that the decision to travel to Dakar was taken to
show solidarity with other Islamic leaders. End note.)


5. Minimize considered.

ALLEN