Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE440
2008-05-07 10:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON: AMBASSADOR MEETS PRIME MINISTER INONI
how-toVZCZCXRO7251 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHYD #0440 1281044 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071044Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8851 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE 0147 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 000440
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: CM KCOR PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: AMBASSADOR MEETS PRIME MINISTER INONI
Classified By: Ambassador Janet E. Garvey for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e).
C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 000440
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: CM KCOR PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: AMBASSADOR MEETS PRIME MINISTER INONI
Classified By: Ambassador Janet E. Garvey for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e).
1. (C) Summary: In an April 29 meeting with Ambassador,
Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni said he had
completed a list of members for Elections Cameroon (ELECAM)
and was advocating for an extension of the exploration
license for US-led mining company Hydromine. He alleged the
President was frustrated with the Minister of Justice's
efforts to recover overseas proceeds from corruption and
insisted he was uninvolved in the corruption-tainted purchase
of a presidential airplane in 2004. Ambassador noted that
the USG regretted President Biya's decision to eliminate
presidential term limits. End summary.
Political Developments
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador told the PM that Washington regretted
President Biya's decision to move forward with a
constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term
limits. We object to the President's characterization of
term limits as undemocratic, she added. Inoni made no
response. Ambassador expressed our continued concerns about
the GRC's closing of VOA affiliate Magic FM radio. Inoni
replied simply that they had not paid their taxes.
Ambassador made the point that other radio stations had not
paid taxes and that Magic FM appeared to be singled out.
3. (C) Inoni said he had completed a well-balanced list of
members for Elections Cameroon (ELECAM),working closely with
the Commonwealth. The list would be presented to the
president soon. Ambassador noted that we hope not to see
another CONAC (the Cameroon anti-corruption agency which has
yet to be active). The PM agreed that CONAC has been
ineffective, headed by someone who "you can't trust but can't
get rid of."
Corruption
--------------
4. (C) Inoni expected more corruption-related arrests in
the near future. The President is unhappy with Minister of
Justice Amadou Ali, who led people to believe information
about overseas proceeds from corruption would be easy to
obtain through the services of high-priced consultants, and
who has so far not delivered, according to Inoni. Inoni said
he was not worried about corruption allegations related to
the 2004 purchase of the Albatross presidential airplane.
Inoni claimed that he had provided President Biya with
evidence that Inoni (who was Assistant Secretary General at
the time of the purchase) was not involved in this deal.
Hydromine
--------------
5. (C) The PM said the Minister of Mines had sat on a
letter for two weeks extending an exploration license for the
U.S.-led Hydromine bauxite mining project. Inoni said he and
senior officials in the presidency have been pressuring the
ministry to send the letter to Hydromine; he blamed rival
Alucam, which "doesn't want the country to move forward."
(Note: post has continued to advocate heavily in Hydromine's
favor over the past month, raising the issue of the license
extension directly with the Presidency, senior Ministry of
Mines officials, and repeatedly with the Prime Minister.
Despite our efforts and the promises of our interlocutors,
Hydromine has not yet received an extension on an exploration
license that expired at the end of March. End note.)
Food Security
--------------
6. (SBU) Ambassador raised food security, which Inoni
agreed was a major issue in Cameroon. He noted the large
number of small farms and land holdings and said there was
some concern in the government about whether to encourage
biofuels.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Inoni was relaxed and spoke at length. He was
surprisingly forthcoming on corruption and the Albatross
affair (which is increasingly in the news, implicating him).
While friendly toward the United States, Inoni has not always
delivered on his offers to be helpful (for example, on
Hydromine). He tops the list of officials rumored to be on
the chopping block for the next Cabinet shuffle, which the
political rumor mill says could come at any time.
GARVEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: CM KCOR PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: AMBASSADOR MEETS PRIME MINISTER INONI
Classified By: Ambassador Janet E. Garvey for reasons 1.4 (d) and (e).
1. (C) Summary: In an April 29 meeting with Ambassador,
Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni said he had
completed a list of members for Elections Cameroon (ELECAM)
and was advocating for an extension of the exploration
license for US-led mining company Hydromine. He alleged the
President was frustrated with the Minister of Justice's
efforts to recover overseas proceeds from corruption and
insisted he was uninvolved in the corruption-tainted purchase
of a presidential airplane in 2004. Ambassador noted that
the USG regretted President Biya's decision to eliminate
presidential term limits. End summary.
Political Developments
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador told the PM that Washington regretted
President Biya's decision to move forward with a
constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term
limits. We object to the President's characterization of
term limits as undemocratic, she added. Inoni made no
response. Ambassador expressed our continued concerns about
the GRC's closing of VOA affiliate Magic FM radio. Inoni
replied simply that they had not paid their taxes.
Ambassador made the point that other radio stations had not
paid taxes and that Magic FM appeared to be singled out.
3. (C) Inoni said he had completed a well-balanced list of
members for Elections Cameroon (ELECAM),working closely with
the Commonwealth. The list would be presented to the
president soon. Ambassador noted that we hope not to see
another CONAC (the Cameroon anti-corruption agency which has
yet to be active). The PM agreed that CONAC has been
ineffective, headed by someone who "you can't trust but can't
get rid of."
Corruption
--------------
4. (C) Inoni expected more corruption-related arrests in
the near future. The President is unhappy with Minister of
Justice Amadou Ali, who led people to believe information
about overseas proceeds from corruption would be easy to
obtain through the services of high-priced consultants, and
who has so far not delivered, according to Inoni. Inoni said
he was not worried about corruption allegations related to
the 2004 purchase of the Albatross presidential airplane.
Inoni claimed that he had provided President Biya with
evidence that Inoni (who was Assistant Secretary General at
the time of the purchase) was not involved in this deal.
Hydromine
--------------
5. (C) The PM said the Minister of Mines had sat on a
letter for two weeks extending an exploration license for the
U.S.-led Hydromine bauxite mining project. Inoni said he and
senior officials in the presidency have been pressuring the
ministry to send the letter to Hydromine; he blamed rival
Alucam, which "doesn't want the country to move forward."
(Note: post has continued to advocate heavily in Hydromine's
favor over the past month, raising the issue of the license
extension directly with the Presidency, senior Ministry of
Mines officials, and repeatedly with the Prime Minister.
Despite our efforts and the promises of our interlocutors,
Hydromine has not yet received an extension on an exploration
license that expired at the end of March. End note.)
Food Security
--------------
6. (SBU) Ambassador raised food security, which Inoni
agreed was a major issue in Cameroon. He noted the large
number of small farms and land holdings and said there was
some concern in the government about whether to encourage
biofuels.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Inoni was relaxed and spoke at length. He was
surprisingly forthcoming on corruption and the Albatross
affair (which is increasingly in the news, implicating him).
While friendly toward the United States, Inoni has not always
delivered on his offers to be helpful (for example, on
Hydromine). He tops the list of officials rumored to be on
the chopping block for the next Cabinet shuffle, which the
political rumor mill says could come at any time.
GARVEY