G-8 COMMITMENT AND DARFUR KEEPS CANADA FOCUSED ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 000755 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID XA SU CA CH SUBJECT: G-8 COMMITMENT AND DARFUR KEEPS CANADA FOCUSED ON AFRICA REF: A. OTTAWA 737 ¶B. OTTAWA 491 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Harper has made Latin America, U.S. relations, Afghanistan, and major emerging markets Canada's prime foreign policy themes, leading to concern that Africa would "fall off the map." Africa nonetheless has maintained its spot on Canada's radar screen, in large measure because of Canada's G-8 commitments, as well as continued public concern over the crisis in Darfur. Canada expects to hit its commitment to double aid to Africa by 2008-2009 (reaching C$2.1 billion per annum),will stay engaged in Darfur, and will continue its support for peace, reconciliation, and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Great Lakes. While watching with some concern China's expanding ties with Africa, Canada's goal is better to integrate China within broader international efforts on the continent. Despite the paucity of references to Africa in the current government's policy and public statements, Canada's values and its desire to play an important role on the world stage help to ensure that Canada will remain an active partner on a range of key African issues. End Summary. ¶2. (C) A recent forum in Ottawa on Somalia (ref a) focused on the theme "Is Africa Falling off Canada's Map?" Since coming into office in 2006, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has narrowed the focus of his minority government's foreign policy agenda to Latin America, U.S. relations, Afghanistan, and major emerging markets (notably, China and India),and has rarely spoken publicly or visited Africa. His public comments have left the distinct impression that Canada's assistance programs, especially by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) would shift their emphases as well away from a truly global strategy; some programs in the Balkans are apparently among the first victims. ¶3. (C) At the public forum, Director General for African Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) David Angell nonetheless gave a spirited defense of Canada's involvement in Africa. Separately, Sudan Task Force Director Scott Proudfoot told visiting AF DAS James Swan that a high level of engagement in Africa was and would remain a natural and unavoidable extension of Canada's values. VISITORS KEEP UP THE PACE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) While not rivaling the pace of visits to Latin America (ref a),there has nonetheless been a steady stream of official visits to Africa over the past year. In November 2007, the Prime Minister was in Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and added a bilateral visit to Tanzania. During this trip, he announced a Canadian-led "Save a Million Lives" initiative to deliver basic, cost-effective, and life-saving health services to mothers and children; the government projects the program will save 200,000 lives in Africa. Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai visited Kenya and Ethiopia in March. Then-Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier made a high profile visit to Sudan also in March, including both Khartoum and South Sudan, making a major statement on the peace process in Uganda. DFAIT's Africa Division brags that approximately 20% of all DFAIT's news releases deal with Africa, although most in recent months have been expressions of Canada's concern Qin recent months have been expressions of Canada's concern about developments in Zimbabwe, Kenya, or Sudan. DOUBLING OF AID -------------- ¶5. (SBU) True to its commitment to G-8, Canada will indeed double its annual aid to Africa by 2010. The government reiterated this commitment in its last budget speech, and is set to meet this target this fiscal year, with overall aid to Africa reaching C$2.1 billion (Canadian and U.S. dollar values are roughly equivalent nowadays). This was the only specific geographic focus cited in this year's budget. However, the C$500 million "Canada Fund for Africa" -- which an earlier Liberal government set up in the 2002 budget -- has completed the majority of its projects and officially ended on March 31, although its Secretariat will remain open until September 30. ¶6. (U) Minister of International Development Bev Oda in February announced almost C$400 million for development in OTTAWA 00000755 002 OF 003 Africa, with a special emphasis on health and education, with C$302 million going to the African Development Bank, C$72.5 million to the World Food Program, and C$17 to key governance initiatives. Another C$275 million will go to security development in Sudan; there are a number of smaller projects in support of peace processes and reconciliation. DFAIT's Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force currently also runs multi-year programs to help sub-Saharan francophone African institutions overseeing public finance, to fund the African Peer Review Mechanism, and to assist the Southern Africa Trust. SUDAN GETS SPECIAL EMPHASIS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Due to public pressure and Parliamentary interest, the largest single piece of Canada's aid to Africa -- and its third largest aid recipient overall after Afghanistan and Haiti -- is Sudan. Including assessed contributions, Canada will invest C$275 million in Sudan in security, diplomatic initiatives, and humanitarian aid this year. During his March visit to Sudan, then-Foreign Minister Bernier pressed for progress both in Darfur and to preserve the peace agreement in the south. He also announced C$40 million for equipment and training for African troops with the hybrid force, making Canada the second largest voluntary financial supporter of UNAMID. ¶8. (C) Beyond helping to sustain humanitarian assistance and the peacekeeping mission, Canadian officials acknowledge Canada's limited role in Darfur and its environs. According to Sudan Task Force Director Proudfoot, Canada's relations with Sudan are "not good and not getting better." Canada has tried to play a productive political role with Chad and with the rebel groups, but recognizes that -- "right or wrong" -- the French have the lead with Chad, and that, given the current dynamic, even the AU and UN Special Envoys have been unable to convince the parties to engage in a meaningful peace process. Canada remains concerned with how the hybrid mission is progressing, Proudfoot said, adding that "UNDPKO knows how to mount a mission, but not how to blend one." Despite these frustrations, he indicated that Sudan will remain a policy concern for the future in light of Canada's long-time commitment to humanitarian causes and multilateral diplomacy, PEACE AND RECONCILIATION -------------- ¶9. (C) According to DFAIT's Southern Africa Director Lisa Stadelbauer, while Africa may not be the most prominent among Canada's geographic priorities, its needs are in alignment with the government's thematic priorities: promoting rule of law, democracy, human rights, and freedom. Canada continues to participate in Northern Uganda's peace talks as an observer and contributes C$8 million in support of the peace process there. It has also offered assistance to victims of the post-election violence in Kenya, and Canadian diplomats have been involved in diplomatic efforts with regional leaders to put pressure on President Mugabe. While recognizing that Canada was not a major player in Africa, Stadelbauer commented that its activities remain important and worthwhile. ¶10. (SBU) Canada's direct involvement in peacekeeping (apart from Afghanistan) is down from its peak in the 1990's, but DFAIT in April announced a three-year contribution of C$10.3 million to build peacekeeping capacity in Africa, which Canada's Pearson Peacekeeping Centre will implement. C$7.9 QCanada's Pearson Peacekeeping Centre will implement. C$7.9 million will strengthen the capacity of African countries to contribute more effectively to the civilian police component of peace operations with the UN and the African Union, including training for police officers heading to the AU-UN hybrid mission in Darfur. Another C$2.4 million will train African personnel in peace missions. Canada has also developed an e-training course for African peacekeepers, assisted with infrastructure for the peacekeeping school in Bamako, and is funding courses at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra and through ECOWAS. With funding for DFAIT's Global Peace and Security Fund now set at about C$140 million per year, Canada intends to continue to play a useful role, but with greater flexibility than working solely through CIDA. GREAT LAKES -------------- ¶11. (C) Canada also maintains a special interest in the Great OTTAWA 00000755 003 OF 003 Lakes region due to its historical involvement in the search for peace there; it continues to act as co-chair of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region. According to DG Angell, Canada would like to help with the training of a rapid reaction force, but the infrastructure was still problematic. He explained that Canada was looking for the right niche with regard to assisting in the development of post-conflict security architecture and security sector reform. Canada recently contributed C$3 million to disarmament, and has sponsored projects dealing with sexual exploitation. In addition, Canada has sent three specialists to Goma to assist with implementation of the peace agreement there. CHINA IN AFRICA -------------- ¶12. (C) According to Sudan Task Force Director Proudfoot, Canada's main concern about China's expanding relations with Africa was how to maintain a high-level dialogue to engage on issues of trade, aid, and development for the continent. A recent DFAIT analysis of China in Africa -- based on input from Canada's Africa missions -- concluded that "increased Chinese engagement in Africa holds enormous promise for the continent. Canada has both the interest and ability to work with China and other partners, African and otherwise, in helping to realize that potential. To this end, Canada should seek . . . to help integrate China within broader international efforts to promote economic and social development and . . . integrate China within the emerging international consensus on aid effectiveness, as reflected in the Paris Declaration." It admitted that Chinese engagement in Africa also came with some risk, and recommended that Canada work to minimize the negative impact China could have on regional peace processes (apparently a veiled reference to the less than helpful role China was playing in Darfur when this analysis came out in November 2007). COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) While focusing less on Africa than some previous Canadian governments, PM Harper's Conservative government continues to be a generous donor and active partner in the continent, still genuinely committed to improving the lives of Africans and enhancing prospects for peace and democracy. The G-8 framework has provided an extremely useful incentive for the government to justify a sustained and even growing role, just as the UN framework does in the case of Darfur. Its expertise on and interest in issues such as conflict resolution and peacebuilding will continue to enable Canada to work closely with us and other like-minded countries as needed throughout the continent. End Comment. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada BREESE