Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA2111
2009-11-23 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
ECOWAS PRESIDENT STEPPING DOWN FOR POSTING IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUJA #2111 3271508 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231508Z NOV 09 ZDK ZUI #2598 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7552 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0196 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0032 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0624 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0481 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2345 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 002111
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS PRESIDENT STEPPING DOWN FOR POSTING IN
BRUSSELS
REF: ABUJA 2076 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (b) and (d).
-----------------------------
CHAMBAS TO LEAVE FOR ACP POST
-----------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002111
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR NI
SUBJECT: ECOWAS PRESIDENT STEPPING DOWN FOR POSTING IN
BRUSSELS
REF: ABUJA 2076 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (b) and (d).
--------------
CHAMBAS TO LEAVE FOR ACP POST
--------------
¶1. (U) Nigerian Foreign Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe opened
the Sixty-Third Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers Meeting in
Abuja November 20 by announcing that the Council of Ministers
of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP)
selected ECOWAS President Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas as the
ACP's new Secretary General in Brussels. Chambas will step
down as ECOWAS President in the first quarter of 2010 to
assume his new position by March 1.
--------------
NO DEFINITIVE WORD ON SUCCESSOR
--------------
¶2. (C) Neither Foreign Minister Maduekwe nor anyone at the
ECOWAS Secretariat indicated who would replace Dr. Chambas.
European Commission diplomat Tim Baines told PolMilOff
November 19 that ECOWAS would announce Chambas' successor at
the December 21 ECOWAS Heads of State Meeting in Abuja. The
Swedish Charge d'Affaires and a French PolOff speculated the
previous day to PolMilOff that current ECOWAS Vice President
Jean de Dieu Somda would most likely replace Ghanaian-born
Chambas as interim ECOWAS President until the end of 2010.
They remarked that another, but less likely, choice would be
an individual from Burkina Faso. If this scenario
materialized, Somda would need to step down, as the ECOWAS
President and Vice President must come from different
countries.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
¶3. (C) Today's announcement confirms information passed to us
by ECOWAS Peace and Security Commissioner Colonel Mahamane
Toure about a likely change at the top of ECOWAS (reftel).
We have heard from knowledgeable contacts that the new ECOWAS
President would likely come from a Francophone country. We
will monitor and report any news regarding a successor.
SANDERS