Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE1042
2008-10-22 13:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON POLICE SUSPENDED FOR KIDNAPPING OF EQUATO-GUINEAN
how-toVZCZCXRO1445 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHYD #1042 2961342 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 221342Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9364 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE 0234 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0265
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001042
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND DRL
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON POLICE SUSPENDED FOR KIDNAPPING OF EQUATO-GUINEAN
REFUGEE
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001042
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND DRL
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON POLICE SUSPENDED FOR KIDNAPPING OF EQUATO-GUINEAN
REFUGEE
1. (SBU) Summary: Cameroon has reacted with shock to reports that
Cameroonian police officials collaborated with security officials
from the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (GREG) to
kidnap a Equatoguinean convicted in absentia and seeking refugee
status in Cameroon. The two police officials involved have been
publicly rebuked, with promises of further sanctions, and the
Government of Cameroon (GRC) has taken the rare step of publicizing
its demarche to the GREG. The last few months have witnessed
occasional signs of friction between Cameroon and its nouveau riche
neighbor, so we will watch closely to see how this incident is
handled. End summary.
2. (U) Cipriano Nguema Mba, an Equatoguinean national seeking
refugee status with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR) and GRC has been missing since October 7, when he was
allegedly abducted by two members of Cameroon's national police,
Ibrahim Ndam and Amadou Ndam, and handed over to the Equatoguinean
Embassy in Yaounde. According to press reports in Cameroon, Nguema
Mba was convicted in absentia by Equatoguinean courts for embezzling
from the GREG Ministry of Defense and for his role in an abortive
2004 coup attempt.
3. (U) Cameroon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) issued an
October 20 press statement acknowledging that "on October 7, a
Equatoguinean citizen enjoying refugee status [sic] in Cameroon was
exfiltrated out of Cameroon by the Equatoguinean Embassy in Yaounde
with the complicity of two officers of the Cameroonian national
police" and that the GRC had formally asked the GREG to "shed light
on the apparent disappearance which, if confirmed, would be a
flagrant violation of diplomatic norms."
4. (U) In two October 17 administrative statements published in
the government-owned Cameroon Tribune newspaper, Edgard Alain Mebe
Ngo'o announced that the two implicated police officers have been
suspended without pay for three months for "irregular arrest of a
refugee on October 8." The October 20 MINREX press statement
indicated that the two would be subject to further charges for their
apparent collusion with "the intelligence services" of a foreign
state.
5. (SBU) Emboffs spoke October 21 with Saidou Batina, a Captain in
the Gendarmerie, which had provided protection to Nguema Mba soon
after his arrival in Cameroon. Having investigated allegations
(subsequently disproven) that a gendarme colluded with the Ndams,
Batina claimed some firsthand knowledge of the case. According to
Batina, the Ndams (who belonged to the same ethnic group as Nguema
Mba's girlfriend) claimed that they handed Nguema Mba to the GREG
Embassy because they believed he was a car thief, a story Batina
dismissed as not credible. Batina said that Nguema Mba initially
fled EG for Cameroon, where he stayed for at least six months before
travelling to Spain. Batina said Nguema Mba returned to Cameroon
about four months ago, for reasons unknown to Batina.
6. (SBU) Poloff spoke to an official with the Cameroon office of
the UNHCR, who confirmed that Nguema Mba had applied for refugee
status, but clarified that his case had been refused and was
currently under appeal. According to the UNHCR official, Nguema Mba
was still entitled to legal protection afforded refugees because his
case had not been definitively refused. UNHCR has demarched the GRC
and briefed Geneva on the case and said it has no indication that
GRC officials were aware of the plot.
7. (SBU) Comment: The GRC has reacted with unusual speed and
publicity to this incident. The fact that the GRC decided to
publicly punish two police officers and admonish (however
diplomatically) the GREG suggests that Cameroonian officials are
genuinely shocked that such a brazen crime would happen in Cameroon,
and with the collusion of GRC officials. The last few months have
witnessed occasional signs of friction between Cameroon and its
nouveau riche neighbor, so we will watch closely to see how this
incident is handled. End comment.
GARVEY.
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND DRL
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON POLICE SUSPENDED FOR KIDNAPPING OF EQUATO-GUINEAN
REFUGEE
1. (SBU) Summary: Cameroon has reacted with shock to reports that
Cameroonian police officials collaborated with security officials
from the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (GREG) to
kidnap a Equatoguinean convicted in absentia and seeking refugee
status in Cameroon. The two police officials involved have been
publicly rebuked, with promises of further sanctions, and the
Government of Cameroon (GRC) has taken the rare step of publicizing
its demarche to the GREG. The last few months have witnessed
occasional signs of friction between Cameroon and its nouveau riche
neighbor, so we will watch closely to see how this incident is
handled. End summary.
2. (U) Cipriano Nguema Mba, an Equatoguinean national seeking
refugee status with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR) and GRC has been missing since October 7, when he was
allegedly abducted by two members of Cameroon's national police,
Ibrahim Ndam and Amadou Ndam, and handed over to the Equatoguinean
Embassy in Yaounde. According to press reports in Cameroon, Nguema
Mba was convicted in absentia by Equatoguinean courts for embezzling
from the GREG Ministry of Defense and for his role in an abortive
2004 coup attempt.
3. (U) Cameroon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) issued an
October 20 press statement acknowledging that "on October 7, a
Equatoguinean citizen enjoying refugee status [sic] in Cameroon was
exfiltrated out of Cameroon by the Equatoguinean Embassy in Yaounde
with the complicity of two officers of the Cameroonian national
police" and that the GRC had formally asked the GREG to "shed light
on the apparent disappearance which, if confirmed, would be a
flagrant violation of diplomatic norms."
4. (U) In two October 17 administrative statements published in
the government-owned Cameroon Tribune newspaper, Edgard Alain Mebe
Ngo'o announced that the two implicated police officers have been
suspended without pay for three months for "irregular arrest of a
refugee on October 8." The October 20 MINREX press statement
indicated that the two would be subject to further charges for their
apparent collusion with "the intelligence services" of a foreign
state.
5. (SBU) Emboffs spoke October 21 with Saidou Batina, a Captain in
the Gendarmerie, which had provided protection to Nguema Mba soon
after his arrival in Cameroon. Having investigated allegations
(subsequently disproven) that a gendarme colluded with the Ndams,
Batina claimed some firsthand knowledge of the case. According to
Batina, the Ndams (who belonged to the same ethnic group as Nguema
Mba's girlfriend) claimed that they handed Nguema Mba to the GREG
Embassy because they believed he was a car thief, a story Batina
dismissed as not credible. Batina said that Nguema Mba initially
fled EG for Cameroon, where he stayed for at least six months before
travelling to Spain. Batina said Nguema Mba returned to Cameroon
about four months ago, for reasons unknown to Batina.
6. (SBU) Poloff spoke to an official with the Cameroon office of
the UNHCR, who confirmed that Nguema Mba had applied for refugee
status, but clarified that his case had been refused and was
currently under appeal. According to the UNHCR official, Nguema Mba
was still entitled to legal protection afforded refugees because his
case had not been definitively refused. UNHCR has demarched the GRC
and briefed Geneva on the case and said it has no indication that
GRC officials were aware of the plot.
7. (SBU) Comment: The GRC has reacted with unusual speed and
publicity to this incident. The fact that the GRC decided to
publicly punish two police officers and admonish (however
diplomatically) the GREG suggests that Cameroonian officials are
genuinely shocked that such a brazen crime would happen in Cameroon,
and with the collusion of GRC officials. The last few months have
witnessed occasional signs of friction between Cameroon and its
nouveau riche neighbor, so we will watch closely to see how this
incident is handled. End comment.
GARVEY.