NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001950 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, AND IO/UNP (GOLDENBERG) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR UNSC GV NG NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA PREPARES FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL REF: ABUJA 1903 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) On October 21, Charge, PolCouns, and PolOff met Nigerian Foreign Ministry (MFA) International Organizations Director Ambassador M. K. Ibrahim to congratulate Nigeria on its election to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and discuss coordination on upcoming UNSC issues. Ibrahim replied that he looked forward to working closely with the U.S. and receiving our support on issues of importance to Nigeria and Africa. -------------- NIGERIA'S PRINCIPAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. (C) Ibrahim said that the GON would emphasize issues of importance to Africa, including development, peace, and security. He expressed hope, in particular, that issues of peace and security would gain resolution in the region, including Western Sahara, Sudan, and Niger. On the domestic front, Ibrahim volunteered that his country was "bungling" through the process of consolidating democracy, but he insisted that Nigeria remained "better" than ten years ago. -------------- EARLY COORDINATION ON ISSUES WILL BE KEY -------------- ¶3. C) Ibrahim emphasized the importance of coordinating early with the GON on multilateral issues. He noted that many issues would require decisions by Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe, who travels frequently outside Nigeria. -------------- -------------- GON WON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT ALWAYS OPEN TO DIALOGUE -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Charge noted that recent UN votes showed there was no longer an Africa or African Union (AU) consensus, and hoped that the U.S. and Nigeria could work together based on our shared principles of support for democracy, human rights, and economic development. Ibrahim agreed on the importance of shared principles, but noted that Nigeria would need to "represent" the views of West Africa and the continent. The GON and the U.S. will not always agree, he said, but regular dialogue will minimize differences. -------------- WORRISOME DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGER AND GUINEA -------------- ¶5. (C) Ibrahim expressed concern over political developments in Niger and Guinea. He stated that Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffi has played a meddlesome role in Niger based on his personal relationship with Niger's leader. Commenting on the October 17 ECOWAS summit in Abuja (reftel),Ibrahim remarked that "attendance could have been better, but the decision taken is what matters." He welcomed Niger's suspension from ECOWAS, but appealed for international support to apply additional pressure on the regime in Niger, particularly since, he said, it depends on foreign assistance for some 80 percent of its budget. SANDERS