Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OUAGADOUGOU493
2008-06-10 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:
BURKINA FASO: ANTI-CORRUPTION HIGH AUTHORITY DELIVERS FINAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5568 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHOU #0493 1621447 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101447Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3782 INFO RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000493
SIPDIS
AF/W FOR EMILY PLUMB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID EFIN UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: ANTI-CORRUPTION HIGH AUTHORITY DELIVERS FINAL
REPORT
REF: OUAGADOUGOU 20
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000493
SIPDIS
AF/W FOR EMILY PLUMB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID EFIN UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: ANTI-CORRUPTION HIGH AUTHORITY DELIVERS FINAL
REPORT
REF: OUAGADOUGOU 20
1. On June 3, the Burkinabe Anti-Corruption High Authority (HACLC)
submitted to Prime Minister Tertius Zongo its 2007 report on the
status of corruption in Burkina Faso. The report was the fifth and
last of its kind as the HACLC is merging with two other
anti-corruption agencies to create the Authority of State Control
(ASCE) (reftel). (Note: The HACLC was established in 2001, but
started operating in earnest in 2003. End note).
2. Although the HACLC report is not for public release, HACLC
President Alphonse Malobaly Traore presented highlights of it to the
press recently, including its conclusion that corruption in Burkina
Faso is alarming widespread, particularly in the civil service.
Traore commended the establishment of the ASCE and hoped that,
because of its financial independence, authority to make public its
reports, and ability to refer cases to the judicial system for
possible prosecution, it would be more effective than the HACLC.
--------------
Meager Resources Yielded Meager Results
--------------
3. Traore continued his comments to the press, deploring his
agency's small operating budget of only 89 million CFA or around 212
thousand USD. He added that, in spite of limited resources, the
HACLC had conducted communication and training campaigns on
corruption throughout the country. In one small triumph on December
14, 2007, the HACLC transmitted to the Prime Minister 15 cases
related to corruption and other types of financial misappropriation
that amounted to more than 22 billion CFA (52 million USD).
-------------- --------------
Prime Minister Zongo Promises to Combat Corruption
-------------- --------------
4. At the same press event, Prime Minister Zongo acknowledged that
corruption was one of the biggest obstacles to development, and a
major concern for the government, civil society, and development
partners. Zongo understood the long road ahead in the fight against
corruption and reaffirmed his strong resolve to strengthen the ASCE
and other auditing and anti-corruption entities. He noted that
state general inspection and legal authorities, for example, had
been conducting further investigations. Zongo gave assurances that
all institutions and individuals incriminated in the 15 corruption
cases presented to him in 2007 were being called in for questioning.
JACKSON
SIPDIS
AF/W FOR EMILY PLUMB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID EFIN UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: ANTI-CORRUPTION HIGH AUTHORITY DELIVERS FINAL
REPORT
REF: OUAGADOUGOU 20
1. On June 3, the Burkinabe Anti-Corruption High Authority (HACLC)
submitted to Prime Minister Tertius Zongo its 2007 report on the
status of corruption in Burkina Faso. The report was the fifth and
last of its kind as the HACLC is merging with two other
anti-corruption agencies to create the Authority of State Control
(ASCE) (reftel). (Note: The HACLC was established in 2001, but
started operating in earnest in 2003. End note).
2. Although the HACLC report is not for public release, HACLC
President Alphonse Malobaly Traore presented highlights of it to the
press recently, including its conclusion that corruption in Burkina
Faso is alarming widespread, particularly in the civil service.
Traore commended the establishment of the ASCE and hoped that,
because of its financial independence, authority to make public its
reports, and ability to refer cases to the judicial system for
possible prosecution, it would be more effective than the HACLC.
--------------
Meager Resources Yielded Meager Results
--------------
3. Traore continued his comments to the press, deploring his
agency's small operating budget of only 89 million CFA or around 212
thousand USD. He added that, in spite of limited resources, the
HACLC had conducted communication and training campaigns on
corruption throughout the country. In one small triumph on December
14, 2007, the HACLC transmitted to the Prime Minister 15 cases
related to corruption and other types of financial misappropriation
that amounted to more than 22 billion CFA (52 million USD).
-------------- --------------
Prime Minister Zongo Promises to Combat Corruption
-------------- --------------
4. At the same press event, Prime Minister Zongo acknowledged that
corruption was one of the biggest obstacles to development, and a
major concern for the government, civil society, and development
partners. Zongo understood the long road ahead in the fight against
corruption and reaffirmed his strong resolve to strengthen the ASCE
and other auditing and anti-corruption entities. He noted that
state general inspection and legal authorities, for example, had
been conducting further investigations. Zongo gave assurances that
all institutions and individuals incriminated in the 15 corruption
cases presented to him in 2007 were being called in for questioning.
JACKSON