MEETING WITH CAR PRESIDENT BOZIZE

UNCLAS BANGUI 000049

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C SSARDAR, MASHRAF, SLOPEZ, KWYCOFF
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR KOCH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CT ECON PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH CAR PRESIDENT BOZIZE

REF: 09 BANGUI 0046


1. (SBU) On Friday, 20 February, the Ambassador called on
President Bozize. The meeting was at Bozize's request. The
Ambassador had not yet requested a meeting as Bozize had been in
Bossangoa for a week of funeral ceremonies for his mother.
Bozize began by asking the Ambassador's view of the Obama
Administration's policy towards Africa. Noting that the a
Assistant Secretary of State for Africa had not yet been named,
the Ambassador commented on Senator Obama's strong
anti-corruption message during his visit to Kenya as well as
Senator Biden's close questioning of all ambassadorial
candidates on their support for human rights. Given that Obama
is now President of the United States and Biden is now Vice
President, the Ambassador replied that he was confident that the
fight against corruption and the protection of human rights were
likely to remain at the center of United States policy in
Africa. Bozize then asked about the Ambassador's trip to Ndele,
the evident purpose for the meeting.


2. (SBU) Ambassador recounted trip in detail, touching all of
the points detailed in Bangui 0046. Bozize listened attentively
but offered no comment. While taking care to avoid accusations,
the Ambassador made clear his belief that the Central African
Armed Forces had probably killed some twenty unarmed civilians
in Sokoumba. Bozize asked for copies of the photos that the
Ambassador had taken on site. (Prints and a CD of selected
photos have been prepared.) As he had promised the Sultan of
Ndele, Ambassador passed on, and endorsed, the Sultan's appeal
that the President take immediate action to defuse the conflict
between the Rounga and the Goula tribes before it spread across
the Vakaga.


3. (SBU) Bozize expressed concern at the Ambassador's having
traveled to an area where combat had taken place. He cited the
case of the Doctors Without Borders employee who had been killed
and noted that his government had been blamed. He further noted
the Ambassador's previous travel to Obo in extreme southeastern
CAR. Ambassador assured the President that he took no
unnecessary chances but noted direct observation was the only
way to separate fact from rumor. Ambassador further invited the
President to accompany him on his next trip.


4. (SBU) Meeting closed with the Ambassador reminding President
Bozize of the need to take urgent action on trafficking in
persons issues so as to avoid the automatic cut off of U.S.
assistance. (Ambassador left an Aide Memoire outlining the
required legislation, etc.) Ambassador also reminded the
President of previous conversations about the upcoming visit by
CBS News and the Ambassador's request that the President
designate a point of contact.


5. (SBU) As usual, the Ambassador was interviewed by the
Central African television as he left the meeting. Ambassador
used the opportunity to repeat his appeal that all Central
Africans refrain from violence and support the peace accords.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: While President Bozize listened attentively
to the account of the Ambassador's trip, as during previous
meetings, it did not appear that he was fully seized of the
implications. Similarly, there has been no follow up on the
question of either trafficking in persons or even a simple, and
potentially beneficial, matter such as assuring that the CBS
visit go well.


7. (SBU) Since this visit, the news has only gotten worse and
there still has been no public reaction by the Bozize
government, leaving a media space that the armed rebels are
starting to fill with their own press releases and a website.
END COMMENT

COOK