GUINEA-BISSAU AMBASSADOR TO THE GAMBIA CALLS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000114


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2119
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR GA
SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU AMBASSADOR TO THE GAMBIA CALLS ON
AMBASSADOR

Classified By: Ambassador Barry L. Wells for reasons 1.4(a) (d)

1.(C) SUMMARY: Ambassador from Guinea-Bissau to The Gambia
called to request a meeting with Ambassador on a matter of
urgency. She presented a concept paper on Guinea-Bissau's
Security Sector Reform and pleaded for US support to help
resolve the crisis in her country. She referred to the
roundtable on GB security sector reform scheduled for April
20 in Cape Verde as only one aspect of the change that is
needed to restore democracy in Guinea-Bissau.

2.(C) Ambassador Munira Ribeiro called on Ambassador to
present a concept paper on "Roundtable on Guinea-Bissau's
Security Sector Reform" under cover of a diplomatic note.
She requested that Guinea-Bissau needed the support of the US
and international community to resolve the current crisis.
She said the Security Sector Reform (SSR) is only one aspect
of a the needed change. She insisted the killings of the
President and Chief of Defense needed to be investigated
fully and not by internal sources. She indicated that without
this the election to restore democracy will not succeed.

3.(C) Ribeiro scoffed at the current reports that the
President had the CDS killed and was himself then killed by
the military. She pointed out that the uneasy relationship
between the two was well known and if this scenario was true,
President Viero would not "sit around and wait for the
military to kill him". She surmised that others used the
well known conflict between the two to disguise another plot
behind the murders.

4.(C) There are three things that need to happen before
Guinea-Bissau can find some degree of stability according to
Ribeiro: First, the murders need to be investigated
thoroughly to find out who/what was behind them; Note: she
commented that this was the 4th CDS to be assassinated in 11
years) Secondly, democratic elections with international
oversight; finally, she commented that the GB military needed
to be "thrown out". She said many have been there too long
and younger ones are not educated. The current military will
not accept civilian control, according to her. She said that
current CDS Induta is no better and if he stays in charge of
the military, nothing will change. She commented that she is
completely out of the loop politically. For example, Induta's
recent visit to The Gambia was a surprise to her that she
read about in the local press.


5. (SBU) Ribeiro commented that the political situation is in
chaos and people are desperate. Civil servants have not been
paid for months. She said she has not been paid for eight
months. Public utilities such as water and electricity are
either not available or very sporadic. She said the political
process is dysfunctional with 87 people running for
president, four of whom are from the same political party.

6.(C) COMMENT: This is the second time in recent weeks
Ribeiro has pleaded with Embassy Banjul for US and
international assistance with the crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
She speaks more from the perspective of an exasperated,
frustrated citizen that of a diplomat. She indicated she
knows our bi-lateral efforts are managed by Embassy Dakar,
and is appreciative, but wanted to plead her case personally
for us to continue to help. She commented again that the drug
trafficking corruption is rampant throughout the government,
and is largely responsible for this crisis.


WELLS