Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OUAGADOUGOU735
2008-08-08 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:
BURKINA FASO WILL NOT DENOUNCE MAURITANIA COUP PUBLICLY
how-toVZCZCXRO6564 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHOU #0735 2211440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081440Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4048 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0665 RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 3904 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0251 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0076
C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000735
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO WILL NOT DENOUNCE MAURITANIA COUP PUBLICLY
REF: STATE 84915
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Joann Lockard for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000735
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO WILL NOT DENOUNCE MAURITANIA COUP PUBLICLY
REF: STATE 84915
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Joann Lockard for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) On August 8, Charge d'Affaires, accompanied by PolOff,
presented reftel demarche to Vincent Zakane, Chief of Staff at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zakane said there is not yet an
official Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) position on Mauritania;
however, he expressed the GOBF's displeasure and regret at the recent
military coup. Zakane opined that while Burkina Faso is not
supportive of the undemocratic takeover and hopes that it will be
reversed, there is "little chance" that the GOBF will make a
unilateral public statement condemning the coup.
2. (C) Zakane said the GOBF will follow the African Union's (AU) lead
on the issue to include a public AU declaration condemning the coup,
should one be forthcoming. Zakane believed that while some nations
could make independent statements of condemnation, others,
particularly in Africa, were not in a position to throw stones.
Therefore, a statement made jointly by an international or regional
organization would have more weight and receive wider support than a
unilateral one.
3. (C) As members of the U.N. Security Council, the GOBF would also
support a multilateral initiative by that organization to address the
situation. Unfortunately, Zakane explained that since Mauritania is
not a current member of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS),the GOBF could not exercise its leadership role in this
organization to denounce the coup. Nevertheless, Zakane said that
Burkina Faso is "worried" and will watch the situation closely, as
instability in Mauritania will impact every country in West Africa.
4. (C) COMMENT: The GOBF is clearly sensitive to the fact that there
is a strong legacy of undemocratic government takeovers in Africa,
including in Burkina Faso. Therefore, the GOBF overwhelmingly
supports a multilateral approach to the situation, but Zakane,
stopping short of offering to lead such an effort, did not rule out
that possibility.
LOCKARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO WILL NOT DENOUNCE MAURITANIA COUP PUBLICLY
REF: STATE 84915
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Joann Lockard for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) On August 8, Charge d'Affaires, accompanied by PolOff,
presented reftel demarche to Vincent Zakane, Chief of Staff at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zakane said there is not yet an
official Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) position on Mauritania;
however, he expressed the GOBF's displeasure and regret at the recent
military coup. Zakane opined that while Burkina Faso is not
supportive of the undemocratic takeover and hopes that it will be
reversed, there is "little chance" that the GOBF will make a
unilateral public statement condemning the coup.
2. (C) Zakane said the GOBF will follow the African Union's (AU) lead
on the issue to include a public AU declaration condemning the coup,
should one be forthcoming. Zakane believed that while some nations
could make independent statements of condemnation, others,
particularly in Africa, were not in a position to throw stones.
Therefore, a statement made jointly by an international or regional
organization would have more weight and receive wider support than a
unilateral one.
3. (C) As members of the U.N. Security Council, the GOBF would also
support a multilateral initiative by that organization to address the
situation. Unfortunately, Zakane explained that since Mauritania is
not a current member of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS),the GOBF could not exercise its leadership role in this
organization to denounce the coup. Nevertheless, Zakane said that
Burkina Faso is "worried" and will watch the situation closely, as
instability in Mauritania will impact every country in West Africa.
4. (C) COMMENT: The GOBF is clearly sensitive to the fact that there
is a strong legacy of undemocratic government takeovers in Africa,
including in Burkina Faso. Therefore, the GOBF overwhelmingly
supports a multilateral approach to the situation, but Zakane,
stopping short of offering to lead such an effort, did not rule out
that possibility.
LOCKARD