Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09FREETOWN217
2009-06-12 11:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

MAY POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

Tags:  PGOV PREL SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7498
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0217/01 1631100
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121100Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2677
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 FREETOWN 000217 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: MAY POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

REF: A. 08 FREETOWN 563

B. FREETOWN 79

Classified By: Poloff Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 FREETOWN 000217

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: MAY POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

REF: A. 08 FREETOWN 563

B. FREETOWN 79

Classified By: Poloff Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (U) Summary: President Koroma continued to focus in May
towards reconciling the country's two major political
parties, urging them to implement the communiquQ signed
following the unrest in March. On the heels of the Cabinet
reshuffle, Ministers have signed new performance contracts.
The disintegration of the PMDC party continues as key members
resign. A task force assembled by the Vice President traveled
to Kambia province to investigate a church burning in Rogbon
village. The new Minister of Lands embarked on a
house-cleaning campaign, suspending fourteen senior staff for
alleged corrupt activities. The murder case resulting from
the hazing death of a Fourah Bay College student closed, with
the judgment scheduled for June 12. Sierra Leone continues to
benefit from investment and assistance from China, Israel,
Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Italy. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
PRESIDENT KOROMA COMMITS HIMSELF TO PARTY HARMONY
-------------- --------------


2. (U) On May 1st President Koroma held a consultative
meeting with stakeholders on the full implementation of the
joint communiquQ signed by the APC and the SLPP on April 2.
Representatives from both the APC and SLPP, as well as ERSG
Michael Schulenburg, attended. President Koroma urged the
parties to cooperate with an independent inquiry to
investigate allegations of rape and sexual violence on March
16 as well as the Independent Review relating to some
politically-motivated incidents that occurred in Gendema,
Pujehun District, Freetown and Kenema. President Koroma also
presented a draft of the Terms of Reference for each of the
proposed bodies.

-------------- --------------
MINISTERS SIGN NEW PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS WITH PRESIDENT
-------------- --------------


3. (C) President Koroma signed new performance contracts with
his Ministers at State House on May 7. During the signing
ceremony the President reminded his ministers that they made
a commitment to the people that they will effect change. He
implored them to make sure they put the interest of the
people they serve first. The President said the new contracts

have higher targets and he will hold ministers fully
responsible for the day-to-day operations of their
ministries. Comment: It is widely believed in many quarters
that the last Cabinet reshuffle (reftel B) was based on each
ministers' successes relative to their contracts' stated
goals, though a public accounting of ministers' performance
never took place. Post views the Cabinet reshuffle as highly
political, and only tangentially rooted in the performance
contracts. End comment.

--------------
PMDC FOUNDING MEMBER RESIGNS
--------------


4. (C) Benjamin O. Davies, founding member of the PMDC and
former Minister of Land and Country Planning resigned from
the party on May 8. He stated in his resignation letter that
he is departing from the PMDC, "driven by the determination
to achieve the objective of a better life for all by being a
part of that vision of President Koroma." He continued by
remarking that the leadership of the PMDC had deviated from
the principles of "positive change" they once stood for.
Comment: The resignation of Mr. Davies is not surprising as
he was not on good terms with the leadership of the party.
Many believe that his departure from office was a result of a
recommendation by Mr. Margai, leader of the PMDC. There is
much speculation that Mr. Davies will join the APC, perhaps
in the hopes of regaining a Cabinet position in future. There
have been many reported squabbles within the PMDC, resulting
in the resignation of former party stalwarts in recent
months. Mr. Davies' resignation will widen the divide within
the party and may also contribute to its ultimate
disintegration. End Comment.

--------------
CHURCH BURNING IN KAMBIA
--------------


5. (U) The Vice President assembled a task force led by
Minister of Social Welfare, Dr. Soccoh Kabbia to investigate
the April 29 burning of a church in Rogbon village, near the
Guinean border. This incident is extremely unusual in a
country that prides itself on maintaining a high level of

FREETOWN 00000217 002 OF 003


religious tolerance, and the GoSL acted swiftly to address
the problem. On May 13, a delegation which included the
Ministers of Social Welfare and Works, the president of the
Inter-Religious Council, leading figures from the Christian
and Muslim communities, and observers from the international
community, traveled to Rogbon to view the site and speak with
stakeholders.


6. (SBU) The church, built by 4H.I.M. international
ministries (a U.S.-based missionary group),was constructed
on the site of a former mosque. Most villagers believe this
is why it was targeted by vandals, although 4H.I.M. bought
the land legally from the village: the mosque had been
abandoned for months before the land purchase, and the church
encountered no opposition to the sale from the community. The
vandals entered the village forcefully (although there were
no reported injuries),burned the church, and destroyed a
mission-constructed water purification system. The group
claimed to be acting on the orders of a Freetown imam.
Comment: Post is tracking the ongoing task force and criminal
investigations of this incident, and expects that the task
force will publish a report of their findings in June. This
highly unusual episode of possible religious intolerance
created a quiet stir, but did not result in retributive
attacks or copy-cat incidents. Post is hopeful that this is
an isolated occurrence. End Comment.

--------------
NEW MINISTER OF LANDS SUSPENDS 14 TOP STAFF
--------------


7. (U) The new Minister of Lands, Housing and the Environment
(Note: The Lands portfolio was expanded following the Cabinet
reshuffle. End note),Dr. Sandi, suspended fourteen of the
Ministry's senior staff on May 25. In a press conference the
Minister stated that the Lands Ministry is one of the most
corrupt in the country and admonished all to desist from
conducting business with the suspended officials. The
Minister further stated that most of these officials were not
qualified for the jobs they had been doing. Comment: The
public perceives the Minister's action as a radical move that
will bring sanity to a ministry that is rife with corruption
and a source of frequent conflict. Three years ago a lands
official was brutally murdered by squatters and land grabbers
for attempting to remove them from lands they illegally
acquired. State House is well-aware of the issues within the
Ministry and surrounding the land tenuring issue; earlier
this year a moratorium was issued on all land sales in the
country (reftel A). End Comment.

--------------
RULING IN MURDERED STUDENT CASE EXPECTED SOON
--------------


8. (C) A critical ruling initially expected to be released
May 26 was delayed until June 12 in the case of the Fourah
Bay College student who died on December 22, allegedly during
a fraternity initiation ceremony. The death of Mohamed Juana,
18, led to a ban on all fraternities and social activities in
tertiary-level institutions country-wide. The ruling will
determine if there is sufficient evidence for the accused to
be tried in High Court, or will be dropped. The outcome of
this case is being closely watched by parents and students
all over the country; there has been a public outcry for
college authorities to monitor initiation rites, which many
believe have become dangerous and taken on a distinct
cult-like quality. Comment: The magistrate's snail-like pace
is quietly being attributed to pressure from unknown sources
seeking to influence the case. While expected to be a lengthy
ruling, it is unusual for such a substantial delay to be
called for. Some sources have indicated that there is intense
political interest in this case from all corners, some of
whom would like to see the accused be made examples of, while
others would prefer to see the case dropped and the ban on
fraternities lifted. End comment.

--------------
BILATERAL RELATIONS
--------------


9. (SBU) Minister of Information and Communication Alhaji I.B
Kargbo has announced that, following a warning from the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),Lungi
Airport would be blacklisted if not upgraded to meet modern
standards. The Chinese government responded in April by
agreeing to fund the upgrade. Minister Kargbo claims that the
upgraded airport would also contain a modern hall for
international conferences. The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra
Leone informed journalists in a press conference on May 17
that the Chinese government will also build two more
hydro-power stations for Sierra Leone over the next two

FREETOWN 00000217 003 OF 003


years, one in Port Loko and the other in Makeni. Comment: The
Chinese government's decision to upgrade Lungi Airport is
consistent with their ongoing policy to construct strategic,
high-profile buildings throughout the country. Other examples
are the Youyi Building, which houses over 80 percent of all
GoSL ministries, the Sierra Leone Police Head Quarters, the
Sierra Leone Army Head Quarters, and the National Stadium.
The Chinese have also pledged to construct a new Ministry of
Foreign Affairs office building. End Comment.


10. (U) in April, the visiting UK Parliamentary
Undersecretary of State for International Development, Ivan
Lewis, committed 28 million Pounds to support the GoSL, the
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and to programs aimed at
improving reproductive and child health care. Mr. Lewis used
the opportunity to appeal to political party leaders to
eschew violence as the country moves forward, and emphasized
the British government's commitment to supporting Sierra
Leone despite global financial challenges.


11. (U) The Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone said
his government is considering a multi-sectoral aid package
totaling USD 300 million to support Sierra Leone's
development objectives this year. High Commissioner Echegile
said his government has also approved the deployment of 133
members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps to Sierra Leone,
including medical personnel and teachers.


12. (U) A Saudi Arabian delegation led by Dr. Abdullah Abdul
Mushin Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World
League, visited Sierra Leone during the first week of May.
Foreign Minister Zainab Bangura thanked the Saudis for their
past and present assistance, and urged them to continue to
help develop Sierra Leone's health, agriculture, and economic
sectors. Minister Bangura said the government needs the
assistance of its international partners to overcome the
challenges faced by a post-war country.


13. (U) The state of Israel has offered scholarships for two
RSLAF personnel to study agriculture in Israel. The Sierra
Leone-Israel Friendship Society representative said the aim
is to build the capacity of officers in vegetable and crop
production. He also said that an expert from Green 2000 based
in Israel is in Sierra Leone to do feasibility studies for a
seed multiplication center for rice. Comment: The
relationship between Israel and Sierra Leone was very strong
in the 1960's and 70's, when Israelis built the House of
Parliament and the maximum security prison. The relationship
has waned in recent years and some Sierra Leoneans have
written op-eds in local newspapers pushing for closer
bilateral ties with Israel. End Comment.


14. (U) As part of the celebration marking the 48th
Independence anniversary of Sierra Leone, the Iranian Medical
Center in Freetown provided free medical care to all patients
visiting the hospital on April 25-27. The Iran Red Crescent
Society also donated an ambulance worth $80,000 to the
hospital.


15. (U) The Italian government donated a large consignment of
medical equipment and other items to the Wilberforce military
hospital in Freetown.

FEDZER