ASTOUNDING CORRUPTION AT CAMEROON'S AIRPORT AGENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000587

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR INL/C AND AF/C
DS/IP/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: KCOR EAIR CVIS CM
SUBJECT: ASTOUNDING CORRUPTION AT CAMEROON'S AIRPORT AGENCY

Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (U) This message contains an action request for INL/C.


2. (C) Summary: Roger Ntongo Onguene, the General Manager
of Aeroports du Cameroun (ADC),the Cameroonian government
agency charged with management of the nation's airports, has
embezzled millions of dollars from the ADC's coffers,
undercut the agency's effectiveness and engaged in
ethnically-biased hiring practices, according to a document
given to the Embassy by Amadou Ali, Cameroon's Vice Prime
Minister and Minister of Justice. Ntongo has been rumored to
be among the next tranche of public officials to be fired in
the Government of Cameroon's (GRC) anti-corruption campaign
dubbed "Operation Sparrowhark" by the media, but has not yet
been removed from his position. Even in the context of a
government rife with malfeasance, Ntongo's corruption is
breathtaking in its scope and brashness. End summary.

Corruption: A Full-Time Job
===========================


3. (C) In a May meeting with Poloff, Vice Prime Minister
and Minister for Justice Amadou Ali, who has been at the
leading edge of the GRC's anti-corruption law enforcement
efforts, shared a two page document, apparently the summary
of an investigation or audit, listing examples of Ntongo's
corruption and mismanagement. Among some of the more
remarkable allegations:

--for 4 years, Ntongo leased his personal vehicle (a 4-year
old Toyota Camry) to the ADC for a daily fee of about $600;
in 2007, he then sold the vehicle to the ADC for about
$100,000; in 2005, he leased a truck to the ADC for three
months at a cost of $45,000

--contrary to GRC regulations, the ADC paid more than
$200,000 to cover two years of Ntongo's son's university fees
in the UK;

--a 4WD vehicle purchased for $120,000 for the Chairman of
the ADC Board was given instead to the Mayor of Obala,
Ntongo's hometown; the ADC continued to pay fuel and
maintenance fees for the vehicle;

--the ADC paid about $60,000 to pave the road leading to
Ntongo's private residence;

--Ntongo terminated contracts with two companies who cleaned
the airports under ADC; Ntongo then hired three companies
that he owned, at contracts paying four times the previous
rates (at monthly rates of about $65,000); the equipment used
by these two companies was purchased by the ADC for about
$700,000;

--of the personnel hired to ADC by Ntongo, 90% come from his
native Lekie Distract;

The Costs of This Corruption
============================


4. (SBU) Although Central African Economic Community
(CEMAC) regulations that were incorporated into Cameroonian
law through a Presidential Decree make it illegal for anybody
to have a monopoly in the aviation sector, ADC has enjoyed a
monopolistic position in Cameroon, where airlines are obliged
to pay ADC fees even for services that are not needed or
never provided. According to a well-placed industry source,
the ADC's fees are among the highest in the world, second
only to Tokyo's, and with no value added; airlines are forced
to hire sub-contractors to do the handling that ADC is paid
to do. These exorbitant fees were factors in the recent
failure of domestic airlines NACAM and Elysian Airlines and
national flag carrier CAMAIR. There is currently no domestic
air service in Cameroon, with CAMAIR formally closed and
undergoing liquidation.

Comment: What Does it Take to Get Fired?
=========================================


5. (C) Even in the Cameroonian context, where large-scale
corruption is the norm, Ntongo's brazen fleecing of the ADC
is startling. The ADC's effective monopoly has stunted the
aviation sector in Cameroon and effectively killed Cameroon's
domestic airlines. No amount of GRC investment or training
from the USG or any other donor could possibly overcome the
paralyzing effect of such intense corruption and
mismanagement. Ntongo's case provides the evidence, if any
more were needed, that corruption is inextricably linked to
Cameroon's development challenges. The emergence of this
document provides reason to believe that Ntongo will face
justice, but the GRC's decision to allow him to continue
running the ADC provides insight into Biya's management style
and reason to question the rigor of his commitment to stamp
out corruption in Cameroon. End comment.

Action Request for INL/C
========================


6. (C) Post asks that INL/C place a p212f hit for Roger
Ntongo Onguene (DOB 17-May-1959).
GARVEY