Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA1662
2009-07-15 06:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT WRAP-UP: QADHAFI PULLS IT

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR AU 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5468
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0529
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0939
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 1224
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/USLO TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0103
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7899
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ADDIS ABABA 001662 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/S, AF/E, AF/RSA, AF/EPS, AF/W, AF/C,
NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AU
SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT WRAP-UP: QADHAFI PULLS IT
OFF, BARELY

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 1607

B. STATE 67887

ADDIS ABAB 00001662 001.2 OF 004


Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ADDIS ABABA 001662

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/S, AF/E, AF/RSA, AF/EPS, AF/W, AF/C,
NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AU
SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT WRAP-UP: QADHAFI PULLS IT
OFF, BARELY

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 1607

B. STATE 67887

ADDIS ABAB 00001662 001.2 OF 004


Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: The African Union (AU) Summit in Sirte,
Libya, resulted in a strong call by member states for the
United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on
Eritrea for its support of al-Shabaab forces who are
threatening the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of
President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The vast majority of African
leaders also vowed not to cooperate in handing over Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court
(ICC). As for the future of the AU itself, heads of state
held vigorous and marathon debates that concluded with a
decision to transform the AU Commission into the AU
Authority. The transformation, which Libyan Leader and AU
Assembly Chairperson Moammar Qadhafi has pushed as part of
his vision for a "United States of Africa," may not actually
materialize for years. Qadhafi pulled out all the stops --
sometimes to the point of hilarity -- to make delegates feel
welcome. End Summary.


2. (U) The 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU
took place July 1-July 3 in Sirte, Libya. Twenty-four of the
53 AU heads of state attended the Summit -- three more than
attended the February Summit in Addis Ababa. Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson led the
USG delegation. He was accompanied by Special Envoy for
Sudan Scott Gration. This was A/S Carson's first AU Summit
since taking up his position in May.

3. (U) SOMALIA: At the Summit, the Assembly of Heads of
States congratulated Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed on
the progress he has made in the country's political process
and condemned the recent surge in attacks on the TFG and the
civilian population. Furthermore, the Assembly made clear
its full support for the TFG as the legitimate authority in
Somalia. Heads of state asked that member states, as well
as the international community, provide necessary support to
the TFG to help the government deal with the current security

situation, making special mention of their appreciation of
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's (IGAD)
support to the TFG. The Assembly also reiterated that member
states that have promised troops to AMISOM should make good
on these promises, and it emphasized the need for greater
contributions of military and police personnel to the
mission.

4. (U) In response to recent destabilizing activities (such
as piracy, illegal fishing, and toxic waste dumping) off the
coast of Somalia, the Assembly called for a comprehensive
strategy to address these concerns. Finally, the heads of
state asked that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
"take immediate measures, including the imposition of a
no-fly zone and blockade of sea ports" to prevent further
entry of weapons into Somalia, and to sanction "foreign
actors ... especially Eritrea" that are supporting armed
anti-TFG groups in the country.

5. (U) SUDAN AND THE ICC: The Assembly issued a decision
regarding the Rome Statute of the ICC and how to deal with
the ICC's indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
The Assembly rallied around Bashir and determined not to
cooperate in his arrest and surrender (though such
cooperation is mandated by Article 98 of the Rome Statute of
the ICC). They also attributed their final stance to the
fact that the UNSC has neither "heard nor acted upon" an AU
request to defer proceedings of the Bashir indictment.
(Note: According to AU sources privy to the closed-door
deliberations, Chad and Botswana argued that member states
should respect the ICC,s warrant for Bashir. End note.)
Members of the AU Commission said that they would work with
other AU justice bodies to examine the "implications of the
Court being empowered to try serious crimes of international
concern." Heads of state asked the AU Commission to convene
a meeting of African parties to the Rome Statue where they

ADDIS ABAB 00001662 002.2 OF 004


would review the procedures and statutes of the ICC.
Moreover, heads of state vowed to "take any further decisions
... deemed necessary ... (to) safeguard the dignity,
sovereignty and integrity of the continent."

6. (U) ERITREA-DJIBOUTI CONFLICT: Despite demands that
Eritrea cooperate in scaling down the Djibouti-Eritrea border
conflict during the last two Ordinary Sessions of the AU
Assembly (held in Addis in February 2009 and Sharm el-Sheikh
in July 2008),Eritrea has repeatedly refused to cooperate.
At this Summit, heads of state expressed "grave concern" at
Eritrea,s lack of progress and urged the country to comply
with their previous demands.

7. (U) OTHER PEACE AND SECURITY ISSUES: The Assembly
addressed several other African peace and security issues at
the Summit, sometimes issuing its congratulations and
sometimes urging recommitment to national cooperation or a
timely cessation of violence. The Assembly welcomed progress
made in political agreements in Burundi, the DRC, the Darfur
region of Sudan, Mauritania, and Cote d,Ivoire.
Furthermore, the Assembly condemned violence and encouraged
greater cooperation in Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, Darfur, and
between Sudan and Chad.

8. (C) CREATION OF AN AU AUTHORITY: Heads of state also
agreed to replace the AU Commission with the AU Authority.
According to Qadhafi, this change will allow Africa to speak
"with one voice" on issues of international significance.
However, the agreement needs to be ratified by African
parliaments, a process that could take months, or even years.
Heads of state deferred a decision on the establishment of
an African Defense Council under the AU Authority, with many
member states considering Qadhafi,s vision of the Council to
be an infringement of their sovereignty. (Note:
Ordinarily, the AU Chairperson presides over sessions of the
AU Assembly of Heads of State, but Qadhafi frequently
inserted himself in sessions at the Permanent Representatives
Committee and Executive Council, or ministerial, levels. In
doing so, he alienated delegates. End note.)

9. (C) UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT: Both Guinea
and Madagascar remain suspended from the AU for failing to
restore constitutional order following coups d'etat.
Mauritania, which had also been suspended by the AU following
the August 2008 coup there, was formally reinstated by the
Peace and Security Council at the ministerial level on June
29 as a result of an agreement to hold elections, but the
country did not have time to send a delegation to the Summit.
(Note: As reported in ref A, in his July 6 meeting with AU
Commission Deputy Chairperson Mwencha, A/S Carson questioned
why the AU reinstated Mauritania before the July 18
elections, saying it might set a bad precedent for other
nations whose processes for the return to democracy were
incomplete. Mwencha replied that the AU decided that its
prerequisite of returning Mauritania to constitutional order
had been met, and that it would be inappropriate to impose
new conditions on the junta. End note.) Technically,
Mauritania could have sent a delegation to the Summit
following the Peace and Security Council decision, but time
did not permit it since the reinstatement took place after
the beginning of the Executive Council,s opening.

10. (U) The Assembly demonstrated a desire to consider new
ways of dealing with unconstitutional changes of government
on the continent; in the following months, AU Commission
Chairperson Jean Ping will begin to consult with leaders of
relevant AU organs, such as the RECs, the Pan African
Parliament, and the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council,
about how to move forward with this objective.

11. (U) AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY -- THE SUMMIT'S THEME
GETS SHORT SHRIFT: In line with the Summit theme, "Investing
in Agriculture to Ensure Food Security," the AU issued two
declarations on land issues and investment in African
agriculture. These declarations include measures to be
undertaken by member states, the Regional Economic
Communities (RECs),the African Development Bank, UN Economic
Commission for Africa, New Partnership for Africa's
Development, and international partners. In the

ADDIS ABAB 00001662 003.2 OF 004


declarations, member states specifically asked that
international development partners harmonize investments in
African agriculture and make available agriculture sector
financing initiatives. Heads of state also agreed to ratify
the Protocol and Statutes of the African Investment Bank. As
with past AU Summits, the stated theme gets little attention
as delegates focus on conflicts across the continent.

12. (SBU) SUMMIT ATMOSPHERICS: The AU Summit was almost
overshadowed by the announced visit of Iranian President
Ahmedinejad, who Qadhafi invited without consultation with
the AU Commission or member states. US and European
delegates were ready to sit out any meetings that Ahmedinejad
would address to protest his usual propagation of untruths
and issuance of threats (ref B). However, as the opening
ceremonies of the Assembly were about to get underway on July
1, delegates heard that Ahmedinejad had decided to stay in
Tehran, where street protests had erupted.

13. (SBU) There were also rumors that Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak would attend this Summit, but he, too, was a
no-show. Mubarak has not attended a Summit of the AU (or
Summits of its predecessor entity, the Organization of
African Unity) since June 1995, when an attempt was made on
his life in Addis Ababa. Reportedly, Uganda's President
Museveni and Rwanda's President Kagame also backed out of the
Summit at the last minute.

14. (SBU) The opening ceremony featured addresses by several
guests of honor:

-- Brazilian President Lula invited the African agriculture
ministers to a Summit on agriculture in Brazil in September,
and he sought African support for Rio's candidacy for the
2016 Olympic Games. Lula highlighted cultural similarities
between Africa and Brazil, and said that African nations
should increase coordination with Brazil in order to face
common global challenges. Qadhafi responded to the Brazilian
leader by advising him that it was inappropriate to hold the
agriculture conference in September as many Africans would be
at home observing Ramadan. He also appeared to feign
ignorance about "these Olympic Games," saying he was only
aware of Libya's Jamahiriya Games.

-- Qatari Emir Hamad al-Thani thanked the African leaders for
their "support of just Arab issues," and said that a "halt to
wars" was necessary to bring about security and stability,
which are vital for African development. The Qatari leader
departed from Sirte shortly thereafter.

-- Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that the
agricultural theme of the Summit reflected the needs of the
African people. He also said that Africa and the Arab world
have to work together to combat the recurrence of conflicts.

-- UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro emphasized
the centrality of agriculture to development and the
importance of empowering female rural farmers.

-- One of Africa's traditional kings invited to the Summit
showered praises on the Libyan Leader, and Qadhafi returned
the favor by telling conference attendees that traditional
monarchs are the "true voice" of Africa that should be
heeded. Qadhafi, who calls himself the "King of Kings,"
disparaged outside influences on the continent. More than
100 traditional rulers in full costume occupied a section of
the conference hall.


15. (SBU) In the run-up to the Summit, the AU Commission,
member states, and invited partners were concerned that the
Libyans were unprepared to host the event. There were rumors
that delegates would have to sleep in tents, on straw mats on
the beach, or crowded into dormitories, and have no cellular
phone access. Promised logistical arrangements included the
provision of two luxury cruise ships to accommodate several
hundred guests. In the end, however, one car ferry that
ordinarily provides service between Athens and the Greek

ADDIS ABAB 00001662 004.2 OF 004


islands moored in Sirte, but the few dozen diplomats who were
able to secure berths found some on-board services lacking.
Other delegates were housed in brand-new apartment buildings
and assorted villas. Some 600 Turks were flown to Libya to
provide food services.

16. (SBU) Despite a fitful start to the Summit, the Libyan
Leader pulled out all the stops by the times heads of state
arrived. He provided free lodging, meals, SIM cards, and
protocol vehicles to many delegations. The little coastal
city of Sirte was bedecked with portraits of Qadhafi,
Pan-African slogans in English, French, and Arabic
proclaiming, "Africa is Hope," "Death to Africa,s Enemies,"
and "One African Currency," as well as brightly floodlit
buildings, flags and banners, and ornaments that suggested a
Christmas theme. In the Ouagadougou Conference Complex built
by Qadhafi to host continental summits, Muzak Christmas songs
and Mendelssohn's wedding march played incessantly and loudly.
YAMAMOTO