NIGER: MNJ LEADERSHIP CONTRADICTS GON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000815

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W HEFLIN OR DENNISON
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL CASC NG LY ML
SUBJECT: NIGER: MNJ LEADERSHIP CONTRADICTS GON
SPOKESPERSON'S CLAIMS THAT REBELS WILL LAY DOWN ARMS TO
BEGIN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

REF: NIAMEY 800

NIAMEY 00000815 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Bernadette M. Allen, Reasons: 1.4. b/d


1. (C) Summary. Following August 18 media reports that
Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ) leader Aghali
Alambo had agreed to Libyan leader Mouamar Khaddafi's call
for rebels to lay down their arms to faciliate planning for
peace talks, the MNJ leadership alleged that Government of
Niger (GON) Spokesperson Ben Omar had made false claims. GON
public television continued to air footage of government
leaders (including the opposition members) and civil society
welcoming the "good news" with hope that rebels and the GON
authorities would soon negotiate a peace agreement. Other
anti-GON rebel groups have had mixed reaction to the reports,
with Forces Armees Revolutionaires du Sahara (FARS)
leadership announcing that its rebels would lay down arms,
but Front des Forces du Redressment (FFR) leadership calling
the intent to disarm a "high act of treason." The GON
extended the "State of Alert" in northern Niger for three
additional months, effective August 24 (the date it would
have ended). Ambassador's (accompanied by FSN Political
Assistant) August 20 meeting with the GON High Commission for
the Restoration of Peace (HCRP) Secretary General (SG) and
the Advisor to the High Commissioner claimed to know no more
than what was reported in the local media and stated that the
Commission would be ready to engage in the peace process when
given instructions by the GON leadership to do so. End
summary.


2. (C) At an August 20 meeting with Ambassador, HCRP SG Sani
Gonda and Advisor to the Commissioner Oumarou Chipkaou
reported that High Commissioner for the Restoration of Peace
Mohamed Anacko was out of town and both men claimed to know
no more than what had been reported in local media. The SG
added that the Commission would be ready to engage in any
peace negotiations as instructed by the GON leadership. SG
apologized to the Ambassador for not being able to meet with
her on August 19, stating that he had to take care of a
"special project", one related to his work as the Coordinator
of the Cross-Border Transhumance Management Project between
Niger and Mali. (Note: The project is aimed at conflict
prevention between herders and farmers along both nations'
common border. End note.) When asked whether Anacko had
gone to the north or to Libya to participate in the reported
meetings or to meet with MNJ officials, the SG said Anacko
had left the country for family visitation in Mali, that he
was expected back in Niger on the weekend (Aug 23-24). In
response to a question about the HCRP's views regarding the
announcement that the MNJ would lay down arms, Gonda said the
Commission members had seen the announcement on television,
that "Alambo has made a historical decision, but the
Commission was not certain what to expect, though it believes
there may be some sort of negotiation soon." He said the
Commission is waiting on instructions from higher
authorities. When asked to comment on the MNJ's recent
denial that it had agreed to lay down arms, Gonda replied
that the HRCP can only rely on the GON's official statement.
He added that the HCRP had been preparing to meet with the
MNJ at the time of the meeting in Ubari, Libya, but awaited
the GON leadership's instruction to take action. Further, he
stated that some people within the MNJ are against peace
because it would mean an end to profitable trafficking
activities. He said he believed Alambo is in favor of peace,
that the news from the Ubari meeting was welcome and all now
remains in Khadaffi's hands.


3. (C) Ambassador informed Gonda that she wanted to meet with
Anacko upon his return to Niamey. She asked Gonda to inform
Anacko that the USG was still working on funding to support
the conflict resolution training that Anacko had raised with
Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Todd Moss,
that the prospects for funding looked good. She added that we
were hopeful that the U.S. Institute of Peace, one of the
institutions Moss had suggested may have interest in
conducting the training, will be able to do so. Gonda
responded that the HCRP had been seeking a training
opportunity for a long time, that such an initiative would be
highly relevant for an institution like the HCRP.


4. (U) A check of the various MNJ-related websites revealed
new postings related to the reports that MNJ would lay down
its arms. On the MNJ website: http://m-n-j.blogspot.com
there is a strong denial that Alambo had agreed to lay down
arms, as well as one of the longest postings of its demands

NIAMEY 00000815 002.2 OF 002


to date. On the FFR website: http://redressement.unblog.fr
appears the first posting since July 25, 2008, a statement
from Rhissa Ag Boula denouncing Alambo's reported
announcement to disarm and labeling the announcement as
treacherous, personal and arbitrary. Further it states that
if Alambo wants to disarm for personal reasons that he should
not undermine the efforts of fighters and martyrs who have
given their lives for the movement. He added that it is
"only the beginning" of the struggle against the Tandja
government. Finally, FARS leader Bocar Mohamed Sougouma in
an interview with Radio France International stated that his
movement had decided to lay down arms to "return home",
information later confirmed in GON Spokesperson Ben Omar's
interview.


5. (U) Late evening August 20, a correspondent for Tele-Sahel
(public television station) announced that the State of
Alert, due to sunset on August 24, had been extended an
additional three months (which will keep it in effect through
late November). The announcement about the extension also
appeared in local newspapers the next day.

Minimize considered.

ALLEN