Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA1866
2009-08-04 09:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO4102 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHDS #1866 2160922 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040922Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5750 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0943 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7922
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001866
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF/RSA, AF/E, AF/W,
AF/S, AND AF/C
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR MGAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC AU
SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN
AFRICA
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001866
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF/RSA, AF/E, AF/W,
AF/S, AND AF/C
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR MGAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC AU
SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN
AFRICA
1. (U) The African Union (AU) will hold a Special Session of
the Assembly of the Union (heads of state) in Tripoli, Libya,
on August 31. According to AU Commission officials, the
Special Session will be devoted to the consideration and
resolution of conflicts in Africa, and specifically those in
the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region, and
post-conflict reconstruction, such as in Guinea-Bissau.
Working groups and smaller meetings will take place on August
30.
2. (U) The decision to hold a Special Session was taken by
African heads of state during the AU Summit in Sirte in early
July. Libyan Leader Moammar Qadhafi reportedly wanted this
event to be held on the margins of the celebrations marking
the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution.
3. (SBU) AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane
Lamamra, told USAU Charge that Qadhafi insisted that the
Special Session be at the executive level (heads of state).
Qadhafi did not want this to be conducted in "business as
usual manner," Lamamra said. Moreover, Qadhafi reportedly
will use the forum in Tripoli to place blame "on whatever
actor is blocking peace processes," Lamamra said. Addressing
those who are skeptical that anything serious can come out of
a one-day Special Session devoted to resolution of conflicts
in Africa, Lamamra said Qadhafi intends for there to be
decisions taken.
4. (SBU) In discussions about the upcoming Special Session,
there has been no mention of Madagascar and Guinea, two
countries that are suspended from the AU following coups
d'etat. Similarly, there has been no mention of Niger, where
a constitutional crisis is unfolding and where AU, UN, and
ECOWAS diplomatic initiatives have thus far failed to
persuade President Tandja to step down after his mandate
expires later this year.
5. (SBU) Lamamra, who stopped in Tripoli for consultations
with Qadhafi on his way to New York 10 days ago, said the AU
Peace and Security Department "welcomes the opportunity to
put African leaders in a position to contribute toward the
resolution of conflicts in Africa."
6. (SBU) Observers and guests, especially P-5 members, are
"expected to attend" the Special Session in Tripoli, Lamamra
said. An official invitation from the Government of Libya
and the AU Commission should be issued any day, he added.
7. (SBU) Comment: August is normally a quiet month for the AU
Commission with many staffers taking extended leave. It is
unclear how much advance work can actually be accomplished
with the Special Session less than a month away. One senior
AU contact grumbled to us that there also needs to be
discussions between the Peace and Security Council and the
Peace and Security Department about division of labor and
responsibilities. End Comment.
GONZALES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF/RSA, AF/E, AF/W,
AF/S, AND AF/C
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR MGAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC AU
SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN
AFRICA
1. (U) The African Union (AU) will hold a Special Session of
the Assembly of the Union (heads of state) in Tripoli, Libya,
on August 31. According to AU Commission officials, the
Special Session will be devoted to the consideration and
resolution of conflicts in Africa, and specifically those in
the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region, and
post-conflict reconstruction, such as in Guinea-Bissau.
Working groups and smaller meetings will take place on August
30.
2. (U) The decision to hold a Special Session was taken by
African heads of state during the AU Summit in Sirte in early
July. Libyan Leader Moammar Qadhafi reportedly wanted this
event to be held on the margins of the celebrations marking
the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution.
3. (SBU) AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane
Lamamra, told USAU Charge that Qadhafi insisted that the
Special Session be at the executive level (heads of state).
Qadhafi did not want this to be conducted in "business as
usual manner," Lamamra said. Moreover, Qadhafi reportedly
will use the forum in Tripoli to place blame "on whatever
actor is blocking peace processes," Lamamra said. Addressing
those who are skeptical that anything serious can come out of
a one-day Special Session devoted to resolution of conflicts
in Africa, Lamamra said Qadhafi intends for there to be
decisions taken.
4. (SBU) In discussions about the upcoming Special Session,
there has been no mention of Madagascar and Guinea, two
countries that are suspended from the AU following coups
d'etat. Similarly, there has been no mention of Niger, where
a constitutional crisis is unfolding and where AU, UN, and
ECOWAS diplomatic initiatives have thus far failed to
persuade President Tandja to step down after his mandate
expires later this year.
5. (SBU) Lamamra, who stopped in Tripoli for consultations
with Qadhafi on his way to New York 10 days ago, said the AU
Peace and Security Department "welcomes the opportunity to
put African leaders in a position to contribute toward the
resolution of conflicts in Africa."
6. (SBU) Observers and guests, especially P-5 members, are
"expected to attend" the Special Session in Tripoli, Lamamra
said. An official invitation from the Government of Libya
and the AU Commission should be issued any day, he added.
7. (SBU) Comment: August is normally a quiet month for the AU
Commission with many staffers taking extended leave. It is
unclear how much advance work can actually be accomplished
with the Special Session less than a month away. One senior
AU contact grumbled to us that there also needs to be
discussions between the Peace and Security Council and the
Peace and Security Department about division of labor and
responsibilities. End Comment.
GONZALES