AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000326 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, AND AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SO NI AU SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT -- AF ACTING A/S CARTER MEETS WITH NIGERIAN FM Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: AF Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Carter met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe on February 1 on the margins of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa. They discussed a range of topics including the Secretary's call to Nigerian President Yar'Adua, Nigerian troop contributions for AMISOM, appreciation of U.S. support for the Nigerian candidate for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),and Nigeria's position on African Unity Government. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Call from the Secretary of State: FM Maduekwe expressed appreciation that the Secretary had included him among her early calls. He explained that Nigeria sees the call as encouraging and is assured that the values it shares with the United States make it a mature partner. Quoting President Obama's inaugural speech, the Maduekwe stated that it is time to put away childish things and that "Nigeria is ready and mature enough to move on to greater things." Nigeria's leadership in Africa, he said, must be based on more than the size of its population: It must be based on modeling good governance and realizing the full potential of its location and natural resources. He reported that he wishes to follow up on the Secretary's invitation to meet with her when he is next in Washington and that he has been invited to speak at Georgetown University. Carter asked that Maduekwe provide as much advance notice as possible of his visit. ¶3. (C) Nigeria Troop Contribution to AMISOM: Carter reiterated the U.S. desire to work with Nigeria to advance mutual interests, citing Nigeria's plans to contribute a brigade rather than a battalion to AMISOM. Maduekwe reported that the Secretary's only request had been for Nigerian action on Somalia. He confirmed that they had the political will to send a brigade to Somalia but that there is concern about the mission -- that it be keeping peace rather than imposing peace -- noting the difference to troop safety. Logistical issues and questions regarding how the troops are to be equipped were raised on the call and the Secretary had offered U.S. support. Carter responded that Nigeria should lay out the support needed, and Maduekwe volunteered to obtain those details from the Minister of Defense on his return. Carter noted that Algeria is willing to provide airlift support as well. He also took the opportunity to thank the Nigerian government for its principled stand, along with ECOWAS, on the coups in Mauritania and Guinea. ¶4. (C) African Unity Government: The conversation turned to the issue of Unity Government and the debate then ensuing at the summit. Maduekwe described the factions developing in the AU Assembly. Pro-unity government member states are led by Libya. Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and others believe the EU model of gradualism should be emulated. Maduekwe believes that a strong foundation built on economic growth, greater harmonization and the development of an economic community are the necessary first steps. Carter agreed, adding that the need to build confidence around economic issues is critical to the process and pointed to the work that USAID is already contributing in this area. USAID Acting Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl Gast pointed to the example of U.S. funding of $150 million for food security and the progress being made through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). ¶5. (C) IFAD Nigerian candidate: Maduekwe thanked the United States for its visible support of the Nigerian candidate for IFAD. ¶6. (C) Meeting with President Obama: Maduekwe requested that President Yar'Adua be considered for an early invitation to meet with President Obama. Carter said that he would take the message back but reminded Maduekwe that there were still issues pending from the last Presidential meeting. Maduekwe explained that on the issue of the Niger Delta, Nigeria is interested in working with the United States and others to seek solutions in the Delta. Carter stated that the United States would need to know what Nigeria is doing now to address the issues in the Niger Delta and the USG wants to see efforts on Nigeria's part that are transparent, cogent, real, and dramatic on the part of the Governor of Delta State. Maduekwe replied that, for the Government of ADDIS ABAB 00000326 002 OF 002 Nigeria's part it would wish to report some successes when President Yar'Adua arrives in Washington. He promised to discuss this with the Governor and suggested bringing him to the United States as well. ¶7. (U) Acting A/S Carter has approved this message. YAMAMOTO