Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1834
2009-10-06 18:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
ECOWAS PRESIDENT PROVIDES READ OUT ON ASSESSMENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ2678 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUJA #1834 2791856 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 061856Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7159 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2046 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001834
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, INR/AA, IO/UNP, DRL;
ADDIS ABABA FOR U.S. MISSION TO AU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GV NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS PRESIDENT PROVIDES READ OUT ON ASSESSMENT
MISSION TO GUINEA AND CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP
MEETING
REF: A. ABUJA 1613
B. CONAKRY 0624 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
-----------------------------------------
PRELIMINARY READ OUT OF ASSESSMENT MISSION
------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001834
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, INR/AA, IO/UNP, DRL;
ADDIS ABABA FOR U.S. MISSION TO AU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GV NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS PRESIDENT PROVIDES READ OUT ON ASSESSMENT
MISSION TO GUINEA AND CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP
MEETING
REF: A. ABUJA 1613
B. CONAKRY 0624 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
--------------
PRELIMINARY READ OUT OF ASSESSMENT MISSION
--------------
1. (C) Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
President Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas requested an urgent meeting
with PolCouns to review the latest state of play in Guinea.
He provided PolCouns with a preliminary read out he received
by telephone from Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister regarding
an October 5 visit to Conakry by President Blaise Campaore,
whom ECOWAS appointed as facilitator. According to Chambas,
Campaore demanded that the military junta account for every
citizen who disappeared after the brutal September 28 attack
by security forces on demonstrators in Conakry. Thus far,
the junta has made available only 58 bodies for burial, with
over 100 persons still missing. Campaore further demanded
that the junta provide medical care to injured persons who
remained hospitalized, release detained political prisoners,
and remove restrictions on the media. He also urged the
junta to implement strict controls over the flow of arms
within the military to avoid soldiers leaving their camps
with weapons to terrorize civilians. Calling for a dialogue
on the political process by the junta with the international
community, Campaore proposed further talks in Ouagadougou
during coming weeks.
--------------
INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP TO MEET
--------------
2. (C) Chambas revealed that he and other ECOWAS colleagues
would fly to Ouagadougou October 7 for further consultations,
after which he would report his findings to the International
Contact Group meeting planned for October 12 in Abuja. He
asked that Washington send a senior representative to the
meeting. He also requested that the U.S. consider
contributing to projected expenses, estimated at 670,000
dollars, for continued dialogue during the next three months.
He reiterated his "extreme concern," noting a disturbing
regional trend toward installation of military governments.
He called for solidarity to ensure that the military junta in
Conakry not doubt international resolve. Pledging to
continue working closely with the African Union (AU),he said
he would support AU sanctions, which would of course apply as
well to ECOWAS.
MCCULLOUGH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, INR/AA, IO/UNP, DRL;
ADDIS ABABA FOR U.S. MISSION TO AU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GV NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS PRESIDENT PROVIDES READ OUT ON ASSESSMENT
MISSION TO GUINEA AND CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP
MEETING
REF: A. ABUJA 1613
B. CONAKRY 0624 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (B) and (D)
--------------
PRELIMINARY READ OUT OF ASSESSMENT MISSION
--------------
1. (C) Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
President Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas requested an urgent meeting
with PolCouns to review the latest state of play in Guinea.
He provided PolCouns with a preliminary read out he received
by telephone from Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister regarding
an October 5 visit to Conakry by President Blaise Campaore,
whom ECOWAS appointed as facilitator. According to Chambas,
Campaore demanded that the military junta account for every
citizen who disappeared after the brutal September 28 attack
by security forces on demonstrators in Conakry. Thus far,
the junta has made available only 58 bodies for burial, with
over 100 persons still missing. Campaore further demanded
that the junta provide medical care to injured persons who
remained hospitalized, release detained political prisoners,
and remove restrictions on the media. He also urged the
junta to implement strict controls over the flow of arms
within the military to avoid soldiers leaving their camps
with weapons to terrorize civilians. Calling for a dialogue
on the political process by the junta with the international
community, Campaore proposed further talks in Ouagadougou
during coming weeks.
--------------
INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP TO MEET
--------------
2. (C) Chambas revealed that he and other ECOWAS colleagues
would fly to Ouagadougou October 7 for further consultations,
after which he would report his findings to the International
Contact Group meeting planned for October 12 in Abuja. He
asked that Washington send a senior representative to the
meeting. He also requested that the U.S. consider
contributing to projected expenses, estimated at 670,000
dollars, for continued dialogue during the next three months.
He reiterated his "extreme concern," noting a disturbing
regional trend toward installation of military governments.
He called for solidarity to ensure that the military junta in
Conakry not doubt international resolve. Pledging to
continue working closely with the African Union (AU),he said
he would support AU sanctions, which would of course apply as
well to ECOWAS.
MCCULLOUGH