DECEMBER POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000013

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SL
SUBJECT: DECEMBER POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

REF: A. 08 FREETOWN 571

B. 08 FREETOWN 598

C. 08 FREETOWN 602

D. 08 FREETOWN 604

E. 08 FREETOWN 605

F. 08 FREETOWN 608

G. FREETOWN 4

H. FREETOWN 5

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (U) Summary: December was a quiet month in Sierra Leone,
with most government and private offices closing for extended
holidays. This month President Koroma hosted the 66th Mano
River Union Summit, including a Heads of State Conference.
This took place less than two weeks before the death of
Lansana Conte and resulting Guinean coup, which created
anxiety in Sierra Leone that the region may descend into
chaos. High-profile visits from the Guinean coup leaders and
Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi generated excitement and
controversy as Sierra Leone celebrated the start of 2009, but
Sierra Leone's bilateral relationships with both countries
continue to be hazy. The 18 suspects arrested following the
July cocaine bust were finally charged under the 2008
National Drug Control Act. The Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC) extended its deadline to submit "Declaration of Assets
Forms" by two months as many people were unable to meet the
original deadline of November 30. After criticism over the
effectiveness of the "The Attitudinal and Behavioral Change"
campaign, the brain-child of President Koroma, personnel were
hired to focus on it exclusively. Japan and the EU both
pledged significant amounts to support development,
infrastructure, and environmental protection efforts in the
country. End Summary.

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GUINEAN PRESIDENT DIES
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2. (SBU) Sierra Leone reacted anxiously when Guinean
President Lansana Conte's death was announced. Many people
continue to be concerned that the junta regime will not hold,
and a violent scramble for political power in the country
will ensue. As a country still suffering the effects of its
own lengthy civil war, people stated fear that Guinean unrest
will necessarily spill-over into Sierra Leone. The government
called a press conference after an emergency Cabinet Meeting
on December 23 to allay concerns. The Ministers of Foreign
Affairs, Defense, and Information, as well as the Chief of
the Sierra Leone Police, assured citizens that the security
forces are on high-alert and plans are in place if a refugee
crisis occurs. Comment: Further information on host
government reaction to the coup can be found in reftels B, C,
E, F, and G. End Comment.

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QADHAFI VISITS
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3. (C) Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi arrived in Freetown on
December 31, bringing pomp and circumstance, a 500-person
entourage, and seemingly little else. Comment: Reftels D, E,
and H covered this visit in detail. End Comment.

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PRESIDENT KOROMA HOSTS MRU SUMMIT
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4. (U) On December 9-10, President Koroma hosted the 66th
Mano River Union summit in Freetown. Koroma welcomed his
counterparts from Liberia and Ivory Coast, along with the
Guinean Prime Minister. Issues reportedly discussed include
drug trafficking, agriculture, and security. Comment: Reftel
A discussed the problems encountered in planning the Summit.
Given interlocutors' immediate departure following the summit
for a UN meeting and the ECOWAS summit in Abuja, and were
then consumed issues relating to the Guinean coup, little
information on the event and its outcomes have been shared
thus far. End Comment.

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COCAINE SUSPECTS CHARGED UNDER NEW LAW
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5. (C) The 18 suspects held for allegedly importing cocaine
into the country since July were charged under the new
National Drug Control Act of 2008. The defense counsels
argued against the charges, stating that the new law was
passed after the alleged crimes were committed, and that the
Constitution disallows retroactive legislation. The High

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Court Justice determined that the charges are acceptable
according to legal precedent, because the offenses are
contained in the previous narcotics control act (2001). Since
they are not deemed "new" by legal standards, the
constitutionality of the law is moot. The trial began on
January 7, 2009. Comment: This ruling is a significant
set-back for the Defense, though sources say that they were
not surprised, and even in agreement, with the decision. The
ruling can be appealed at the conclusion of the trial, and
current focus for both the Prosecution and Defense is the
trial phase, which could last upwards of eight weeks. Post
maintains regular contact with DEA officials on the status of
the case. End Comment.

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ACC EXTENDS DEADLINE
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6. (C) In the first week of December, the ACC extended its
deadline for the submission of the "Assets Declaration Forms"
from the November 30 2008 to January 30 2009, due to repeated
pleas for more time from members of the public service.
According to the ACC Act, all public officials are obligated
to declare their assets, income and liabilities and to submit
the completed forms to the commission within the stipulated
time (Note: President Koroma was the first to comply with
this regulation. End Note.). ACC sources told Emboffs that
they face uphill battles with this new process, since many
civil servants didn't understand how to complete the forms
despite outreach and training. Comment: A source told Poloff
that the forms received so far will provide excellent fodder
for new investigations. The ACC have already found forms
declaring assets which do not reflect individuals' known
standards of living. Several whistle-blowing cases have also
occurred, with servants tasked to deliver the forms to the
ACC informing on their corrupt bosses. While this appears
promising, the ACC has yet to file charges or prosecute under
the new Act passed in September. End Comment.

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ATTITUDINAL CHANGE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF
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7. (SBU) On December 9, President Koroma appointed a
Director, National Coordinator, and Spokesman for his
Attitudinal and Behavioral Change Campaign. The campaign,
urging all Sierra Leoneans to be patriotic and law-abiding,
is a priority of the President, but he initially appointed no
personnel to steer the message, placing the burden on already
over-taxed State House employees. Government critics have
called the campaign a "white elephant," and these
appointments are hoped to put to rest further criticism.
Comment: Though Koroma's desire to instill a sense of
patriotic duty and pride in Sierra Leone's citizens is not
without merit, he prioritizes this issue above other,
festering problems. For example, the Trafficking in Persons
Secretariat was mandated by the 2005 anti-human trafficking
law, but has yet to be funded despite the perception that the
problem is growing. End Comment.

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BILATERAL RELATIONS
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8. (U) The Head of the EU Delegation in Sierra Leone, Hans
Allden, informed journalists that the EU has budgeted 242
million Euros for Sierra Leone to support various development
purposes for the next five years. Allden also said that the
amount will be increased to 300 million Euros if the initial
funds are properly utilized. The EU has already committed
funds for the Freetown-Conakry Highway project, while 40
million Euros have been budgeted for food security for the
next 5 years, 60 million for agriculture, cash crop
production, processing and marketing, and 4.7 million Euros
for rural electrification.


9. (U) Sierra Leone is among 21 African countries which will
benefit from a $92.1 million climate-change program backed by
the Japanese government. Through this program, the UNDP will
work with African countries to help them develop their
capacity to plan, implement and monitor long term development
policies designed to weather the uncertainties of climate
change. The program will also help participating governments
to better tap into the additional finance they may need to
meet the cost of adapting to climate change.
FEDZER