Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NIAMEY81
2008-01-22 13:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
MNJ ATTACKS TANOUT; REGIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO7890 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #0081 0221351 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221351Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4052 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0644 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 000081
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV ASEC NG
SUBJECT: MNJ ATTACKS TANOUT; REGIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
PLANNED
REF: (A) 07 NIAMEY 1479 (NOTAL) (B) 07 NIAMEY 1430
(NOTAL)
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
---------------
Tanout attacked
---------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000081
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV ASEC NG
SUBJECT: MNJ ATTACKS TANOUT; REGIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
PLANNED
REF: (A) 07 NIAMEY 1479 (NOTAL) (B) 07 NIAMEY 1430
(NOTAL)
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
--------------
Tanout attacked
--------------
1. (U) The MNJ claims to have attacked the town of Tanout,
which is located about 100 kms north of Zinder, some 1000 kms
from Niamey. (We understand that the attack was on the
government facilities located on the outskirts of town.) The
MNJ says that it captured 11 people, including the prefet and
two officers of the FNIS (a paramilitary unit of the interior
ministry). It also claims to have killed seven FNIS and
Gendarme troops, and captured arms, ammunition and the
prefet's car. The MNJ website says the attack was in
response to the prefet's overzealous actions, including a
recent meeting in which he allegedly threatened local
notables.
2. (C) The governor of Zinder said that three soldiers were
killed, six people were injured, including three civilians,
and nine people were taken hostage, including the prefet and
the FNIS commander (a captain),and two soldiers were
reported missing. He said that security forces would track
the attackers. Military sources that said five soldiers were
captured, three were killed and six were wounded.
3. (C) FYI: Nigerien security services had previously
reported that they had apprehended people in the act of
laying a landmine in Tanout on December 19 (ref A). Some
people in Tanout believed the mine incident was staged by the
authorities. One of those arrested in the incident was later
released. He told the press that the prefet was behind his
arrest and suggested that the mine incident may have been
staged. He also claimed that the prefet had previously
staged what was supposed to have been the surrender of MNJ
fighters in Tanout.
4. (C) Comment: This is the first significant MNJ offensive
operation since its unilateral Ramadan ceasefire ended
October 12, and its first significant operation outside of
the north.
--------------
Regional Security Conference
--------------
5. (U) Following the recent ECOWAS meeting in Ouagadougou,
Burkinabe President Compaore announced on January 18 that
ECOWAS would hold a conference on the crises in northern Mali
and Niger by the end of March.
6. (C) Comment: President Tandja has for sometime advocated a
regional conference to address the situation in northern
Niger and Mali. The GON has even created a committee to
organize the conference (ref B). It's still not clear where
the conference would be held. Our impression is that the GON
sees the conference as an opportunity for the governments in
the region to discuss how to defeat the insurgents military,
rather than to discuss the substance of the insurgent
grievances with them.
ALLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV ASEC NG
SUBJECT: MNJ ATTACKS TANOUT; REGIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
PLANNED
REF: (A) 07 NIAMEY 1479 (NOTAL) (B) 07 NIAMEY 1430
(NOTAL)
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
--------------
Tanout attacked
--------------
1. (U) The MNJ claims to have attacked the town of Tanout,
which is located about 100 kms north of Zinder, some 1000 kms
from Niamey. (We understand that the attack was on the
government facilities located on the outskirts of town.) The
MNJ says that it captured 11 people, including the prefet and
two officers of the FNIS (a paramilitary unit of the interior
ministry). It also claims to have killed seven FNIS and
Gendarme troops, and captured arms, ammunition and the
prefet's car. The MNJ website says the attack was in
response to the prefet's overzealous actions, including a
recent meeting in which he allegedly threatened local
notables.
2. (C) The governor of Zinder said that three soldiers were
killed, six people were injured, including three civilians,
and nine people were taken hostage, including the prefet and
the FNIS commander (a captain),and two soldiers were
reported missing. He said that security forces would track
the attackers. Military sources that said five soldiers were
captured, three were killed and six were wounded.
3. (C) FYI: Nigerien security services had previously
reported that they had apprehended people in the act of
laying a landmine in Tanout on December 19 (ref A). Some
people in Tanout believed the mine incident was staged by the
authorities. One of those arrested in the incident was later
released. He told the press that the prefet was behind his
arrest and suggested that the mine incident may have been
staged. He also claimed that the prefet had previously
staged what was supposed to have been the surrender of MNJ
fighters in Tanout.
4. (C) Comment: This is the first significant MNJ offensive
operation since its unilateral Ramadan ceasefire ended
October 12, and its first significant operation outside of
the north.
--------------
Regional Security Conference
--------------
5. (U) Following the recent ECOWAS meeting in Ouagadougou,
Burkinabe President Compaore announced on January 18 that
ECOWAS would hold a conference on the crises in northern Mali
and Niger by the end of March.
6. (C) Comment: President Tandja has for sometime advocated a
regional conference to address the situation in northern
Niger and Mali. The GON has even created a committee to
organize the conference (ref B). It's still not clear where
the conference would be held. Our impression is that the GON
sees the conference as an opportunity for the governments in
the region to discuss how to defeat the insurgents military,
rather than to discuss the substance of the insurgent
grievances with them.
ALLEN