Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NIAMEY433
2008-04-17 11:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
NIGER: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR RECONCILIATION ON THE
how-toVZCZCXRO0694 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #0433 1081140 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171140Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4254 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 3439 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0669 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY RUZEHAA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000433
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR RECONCILIATION ON THE
REBELLION
REF: NIAMEY 310
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, CDA, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000433
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR RECONCILIATION ON THE
REBELLION
REF: NIAMEY 310
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, CDA, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: The GON official responsible for implementing
the 1995 peace accord is disappointed that there had not been
any GON follow-up to the MNJ's release of hostages. He
thought the President's April 24 speech marking the end of
the 1990s rebellion and the Communication Minister's
statements during his current trip to Paris might indicate
whether the GON is willing to negotiate with the MNJ. The
humanitarian situation in the north continues to deteriorate.
End Summary.
2. (C) High Commissioner for Peace Restoration Mohamed Anacko
on April 17 provided Charge his assessment of the rebellion.
Anacko was the leader of a Tuareg rebel group in the early
1990s, who in his current job is charged with implementing
the Peace agreement that ended that rebellion.
3. (C) Anacko was less optimistic than he was in his March 12
meeting with the Ambassador. That meeting followed the MNJ's
release of 25 hostages, which Anacko had thought might lead
to discussions to end the conflict (reftel). Anacko told the
Charge that there had been no GON follow-up to the hostage
release. He was pleased, however, with the declaration that
the National Assembly issued on April 12 which, among other
things, urged the government to seek a peaceful solution to
the conflict. He thought the Assembly's action might move
the peace process forward.
4. (C) Anacko said his office normally prepares the speech
the President gives on the April 24 anniversary of the 1995
peace agreement. The office drafted a conciliatory speech
this year, with a call for "extending a hand" to "all the
sons of Niger." The speech will be forwarded to the
Presidency soon, and then Anacko will learn if the President
agrees to use the conciliatory language. Anacko said he is
also waiting to see what remarks GON communications minister
and spokesman Mohamed Ben Omar makes on his current visit to
Paris. If Ben Omar refers to the MNJ as bandits and
traffickers, it will indicate a lack of desire on the part of
the GON to negotiate with the MNJ.
5. (C) Anacko was concerned about a second hand report that
President Tandja was very angry after a meeting he had on
April 15 with the released hostages. He apparently summoned
his advisors to a meeting immediately after the session with
the hostages, but Anacko did not know what was discussed at
that meeting or what had made Tandja angry.
6. (C) The humanitarian situation in the north continues to
deteriorate, Anacko said. The civilian population has fled
from three communes: Iferouane early in the rebellion,
Gougaram a few weeks ago, and now Dabaga. Dabaga is a rich
farming area which grows potatoes and onions, but now the
fields are untended. The thousands of civilians who fled
Dabaga have taken refuge in Agadez, exacerbating the
humanitarian situation there. Food is particularly scare in
Agadez. " (Note: Communes are subsections of states, and are
often quite large.)
MINIMIZED CONSIDERED.
KORAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR RECONCILIATION ON THE
REBELLION
REF: NIAMEY 310
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, CDA, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: The GON official responsible for implementing
the 1995 peace accord is disappointed that there had not been
any GON follow-up to the MNJ's release of hostages. He
thought the President's April 24 speech marking the end of
the 1990s rebellion and the Communication Minister's
statements during his current trip to Paris might indicate
whether the GON is willing to negotiate with the MNJ. The
humanitarian situation in the north continues to deteriorate.
End Summary.
2. (C) High Commissioner for Peace Restoration Mohamed Anacko
on April 17 provided Charge his assessment of the rebellion.
Anacko was the leader of a Tuareg rebel group in the early
1990s, who in his current job is charged with implementing
the Peace agreement that ended that rebellion.
3. (C) Anacko was less optimistic than he was in his March 12
meeting with the Ambassador. That meeting followed the MNJ's
release of 25 hostages, which Anacko had thought might lead
to discussions to end the conflict (reftel). Anacko told the
Charge that there had been no GON follow-up to the hostage
release. He was pleased, however, with the declaration that
the National Assembly issued on April 12 which, among other
things, urged the government to seek a peaceful solution to
the conflict. He thought the Assembly's action might move
the peace process forward.
4. (C) Anacko said his office normally prepares the speech
the President gives on the April 24 anniversary of the 1995
peace agreement. The office drafted a conciliatory speech
this year, with a call for "extending a hand" to "all the
sons of Niger." The speech will be forwarded to the
Presidency soon, and then Anacko will learn if the President
agrees to use the conciliatory language. Anacko said he is
also waiting to see what remarks GON communications minister
and spokesman Mohamed Ben Omar makes on his current visit to
Paris. If Ben Omar refers to the MNJ as bandits and
traffickers, it will indicate a lack of desire on the part of
the GON to negotiate with the MNJ.
5. (C) Anacko was concerned about a second hand report that
President Tandja was very angry after a meeting he had on
April 15 with the released hostages. He apparently summoned
his advisors to a meeting immediately after the session with
the hostages, but Anacko did not know what was discussed at
that meeting or what had made Tandja angry.
6. (C) The humanitarian situation in the north continues to
deteriorate, Anacko said. The civilian population has fled
from three communes: Iferouane early in the rebellion,
Gougaram a few weeks ago, and now Dabaga. Dabaga is a rich
farming area which grows potatoes and onions, but now the
fields are untended. The thousands of civilians who fled
Dabaga have taken refuge in Agadez, exacerbating the
humanitarian situation there. Food is particularly scare in
Agadez. " (Note: Communes are subsections of states, and are
often quite large.)
MINIMIZED CONSIDERED.
KORAN