Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE1077
2008-11-04 14:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE NETS ANOTHER
how-toVZCZCXRO2723 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHYD #1077 3091435 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041435Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9400 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE 0245 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001077
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C AND INL/C
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL ECON EINV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE NETS ANOTHER
EMBEZZLER
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 001077
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C AND INL/C
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL ECON EINV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE NETS ANOTHER
EMBEZZLER
1. (U) Cameroon's anti-corruption drive, dubbed Operation
Epervier ("Sparrowhawk") by the Cameroonian public, has
netted another government official for embezzlement. Jean
Dieudonne Ndoumou, most recently assigned to the Prime
Minister's office, was detained by judicial authorities
during the week of October 20 for reportedly pocketing funds
meant for a much-needed power development project in Kribi,
along Cameroon's southern coast.
2. (U) In his position as the Kribi Divisional Officer from
2000 to 2003, Ndoumou received funds from Cameroon's National
Oil Company (SNH) that were meant to pay local communities
for land that would be used to construct a gas-fired power
plant in the town of Bipaga. The Government of Cameroon
claims that Ndoumou pocketed the first installments of the
696 million CFA (about $1.4 million) he received. Ndoumou's
arrest follows on the detention, during the week of October
9, of the village chief and notary for Bipaga II (a community
adjacent to Bipaga I, the intended recipients),who were
charged with embezzlement, forgery and use of forged
documents. Press reports indicate that further arrests,
including of some SNH officials, may follow.
3. (SBU) Comment: Ndoumou is not a household name, and his
arrest will not attract the banner headlines rolled out for
earlier, more high-proile arrests. But in some ways
Ndoumou's case is more significant for Cameroon's longterm
anti-corruption and development efforts. Many observers
criticize Operation Epervier's early arrests as
politically-motivated since they also removed some officials
perceived as disloyal or threatening to President Biya.
Whatever the veracity of those claims, there appear to be no
such undertones with Ndoumou and his collaborators, who are
being prosecuted simply because their embezzlement has caused
substantial setbacks to a much-needed economic development
project (and came at the cost of SNH funds, which are guarded
with particular proprietorship by Biya and SNH boss Adolphe
Moudiki).
GARVEY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C AND INL/C
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL ECON EINV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE NETS ANOTHER
EMBEZZLER
1. (U) Cameroon's anti-corruption drive, dubbed Operation
Epervier ("Sparrowhawk") by the Cameroonian public, has
netted another government official for embezzlement. Jean
Dieudonne Ndoumou, most recently assigned to the Prime
Minister's office, was detained by judicial authorities
during the week of October 20 for reportedly pocketing funds
meant for a much-needed power development project in Kribi,
along Cameroon's southern coast.
2. (U) In his position as the Kribi Divisional Officer from
2000 to 2003, Ndoumou received funds from Cameroon's National
Oil Company (SNH) that were meant to pay local communities
for land that would be used to construct a gas-fired power
plant in the town of Bipaga. The Government of Cameroon
claims that Ndoumou pocketed the first installments of the
696 million CFA (about $1.4 million) he received. Ndoumou's
arrest follows on the detention, during the week of October
9, of the village chief and notary for Bipaga II (a community
adjacent to Bipaga I, the intended recipients),who were
charged with embezzlement, forgery and use of forged
documents. Press reports indicate that further arrests,
including of some SNH officials, may follow.
3. (SBU) Comment: Ndoumou is not a household name, and his
arrest will not attract the banner headlines rolled out for
earlier, more high-proile arrests. But in some ways
Ndoumou's case is more significant for Cameroon's longterm
anti-corruption and development efforts. Many observers
criticize Operation Epervier's early arrests as
politically-motivated since they also removed some officials
perceived as disloyal or threatening to President Biya.
Whatever the veracity of those claims, there appear to be no
such undertones with Ndoumou and his collaborators, who are
being prosecuted simply because their embezzlement has caused
substantial setbacks to a much-needed economic development
project (and came at the cost of SNH funds, which are guarded
with particular proprietorship by Biya and SNH boss Adolphe
Moudiki).
GARVEY