PROGRESS TOWARDS REUNIFICATION BEGINS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000314 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2019 TAGS: PGOV MARR MCAP IV SUBJECT: PROGRESS TOWARDS REUNIFICATION BEGINS WITH DEPLOYMENT OF MIXED BRIGADES REF: A. ABIDJAN 246 ¶B. ABIDJAN 226 ¶C. ABIDJAN 220 Classified By: PolEcon Chief Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Cote d'Ivoire took another step forward in implementing the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) with the launching of mixed brigades on May 8. Composed of police and gendarmes from both the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) and the national security forces (FDS), these brigades are technically under the command of the Integrated Command Center (ICC). Although fewer than 200 of a projected 8,000 police and gendarmes were actually deployed, the commencement of the process is significant since it paves the way for the full transfer of power from the FAFN zone commanders to the government's prefects. President Gbagbo has instructed that the deployment be completed within a month. End Summary. ¶2. (U) A May 8 ceremony at the ICC's Headquarters in Yamoussoukro marked the official launch of the nationwide deployment of "mixed brigades". A total of 8,000 police and gendarmes, half from the FAFN and half from the FDS, are to be deployed throughout the country under the command of the ICC and placed at the disposal of civilian authorities, i.e., the prefects. The deployment of mixed brigades is the first of several steps called for under the Ouaga IV agreement (the fourth supplementary agreement to the OPA). Once these brigades are deployed, government prefects will, in theory, have the capacity to exert their authority, permitting FAFN zone commanders to retreat to designated barracks and surrender their arms. ¶3. (U) Defense Minister Michel Amani N'Guessan delivered conciliatory remarks at the ceremony, which was also attended by Interior Minister Desire Tagro. N'Guessan called on Ivoirians to come together to "smoke the peace pipe" and urged them to henceforth resolve disputes using the power of discourse rather than the force of arms. The Defense Minister told troops to banish concepts such as 'rebel' and 'FAFN zone' from their thoughts, to disarm their hearts as well as their minds, to support reconciliation. National Defense Force Chief of Staff General Mangou echoed N'Guessan's remarks by calling for the banishment of the demons of division. Mangou told those participating in the ceremony that there is a time to stop and work toward the country's development. ¶4. (SBU) The May 8 ceremony received extensive press coverage; reports published the following day indicated that sufficient FDS elements were in attendance, but the FAFN failed to meet its quota of 100. Interestingly, President Gbagbo reportedly instructed PM Soro at a Council of Ministers meeting held on May 7 to have the deployment process completed within a month. ¶5. (C) Several weeks ago the FAFN reportedly gave Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, the OPA Facilitator, a list of 3400 members that they proposed be integrated into the police and gendarmerie in accord with the provisions of Ouaga IV. This is in addition to the 600 FAFN elements who have already been trained as police and qualified, in principle, for admission into the police force. The transmittal of the names from the FAFN to the Facilitator was delayed, leading to rumors that the FAFN did not have enough members to muster up 3,400. The fact that the FAFN were not able to come up with 100 members for the initial deployment has added fuel to such rumors. Another possibility, however, is that the FAFN rank and file are still skeptical about participating and do not support the process. ¶6. (C) Comment. The Defense Minister is considered one of the hard-liners in President Gbagbo's FPI party. His public remarks at the ceremony, even if rhetoric, appear to signal an acceptance by the FPI of a process of reconciliation with the FAFN and the need to move the country forward. Deployment of the mixed brigades is critical since it opens the way for the transfer of power from the FAFN zone commanders to the government's prefects. However, their deployment could increase tensions in the short term as the FAFN are confronted with the reality of government forces returning to areas over which they previously had control. If the mixed brigades work well, this could foster greater unity between the FAFN and the FDS, but difficulties could arise if there is disagreement, for example, over the authority of FAFN elements to give orders to the FDS and vice versa. NESBITT