SEPTEMBER POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000392 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN KCOR SL SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER POLITICAL ROUND-UP - FREETOWN REF: A. FREETOWN 99 ¶B. FREETOWN 179 Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/ d) ¶1. (U) Summary: Political controversy continued to be relatively mild during the month of September, with the nation focused on the potential for a major offshore oil discovery by U.S.-based company Anadarko, and highlighted problems within the health and education sectors. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the alleged rapes during political riots on March 16 was also a subject of great interest, but the statement that the allegations are not supportable in law proved to be a calming finding. On the bilateral front, Sierra Leone appears poised to open a new embassy in Israel, and welcome a new Belgian consulate in the coming months. End Summary. -------------- COMMISSION ON MARCH RIOTS ISSUES REPORT -------------- ¶2. (U) The Justice Bankole Thompson Commission of Inquiry into alleged rapes and sexual assaults during the March 16 politically-motivated riots (reftel A) submitted its findings and recommendations to the President. The Commission found that the allegations were "unsustainable in law," but that the victims did experience "outrages upon personal dignity and other inhumane conduct." The accusations made against Idrissa "Leatherboot" Kamara and Foday "Government Wharf" Mansaray were found to be untenable, given conflicting eye-witness accounts. ¶3. (U) The Commission provided four key recommendations to the government: --create mechanisms through which to promote political tolerance; --ensure that police deployment in volatile situations is adequate and effective; --investigate further the allegations made of police partiality and collusion with perpetrators of violence; --address gender-based discrimination as a social justice issue of the utmost priority. ¶4. (C) The Government has yet to officially respond to the report. Embassy comment: The Commission's report skirted political controversy by satisfying both the APC and SLPP. It recognized that the women were victimized, but exonerated politically-sensitive figures, such as Leatherboot, and eliminated the need for trials that could potentially embarrass the APC. The recommendations, however, are so vague that it is likely the government will either ignore them altogether or state that they have already been addressing the identified problems. While not necessarily a strong document in terms of elucidating the truth about what happened on March 16, it seems to be having at least a momentary calming effect on the political rhetoric that is still used to discuss the riots. However, the ambiguity of the report means that it can be used as an instrument by either party to levy blame on the other when the need arises. End Comment. -------------- HEALTH MINISTRY CLOSES UNLICENSED CLINICS -------------- ¶5. (U) On September 3 the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Mohamed Daudis Kamara, in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council of Sierra Leone, embarked on a closure of all unregistered medical institutions countrywide. Forty-four such facilities were identified for closure. The country's health delivery system continues to be poor, which contributes to the low life expectancy, and high infant and maternal morbidity in the country. Embassy comment: There has been a noticeable increase in recent months of non-traditional medical entities in the country, including those run by Chinese and Middle Eastern practitioners. Their clinics operate with little government oversight of their services, qualifications, or the quality of their medications. End Comment. -------------- ANADARKO FINDINGS EXCITE COUNTRY -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Anadarko representatives informed the President that no significant petroleum discovery has been made yet, but that there is reason to be optimistic about the exploration findings from August. Anadarko representatives informed post that they intend to conduct further drilling in July, 2010. Embassy comment: The Sierra Leonean press has excitedly (and often incorrectly) reported news of the findings, which has given most citizens a distorted view: many believe that Anadarko struck oil, and either respond with enthusiasm or concern that this will lead to Sierra Leone's downfall. Others have expressed their belief that Anadarko will fleece the country of all profits, which has been fueled by negative reporting funded by a Nigerian rival. The GoSL will need to manage public expectations over the next several months, as well as publicize efforts to appropriately and fairly regulate the sector. The Anadarko country representative will provide further information to post in October. End Comment. -------------- ACC REVIEWS THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION -------------- ¶7. (U) The Anti-Corruption Commission issued a report entitled "From the Abyss Back to the Athens of West Africa." The report contains 25 recommendations for reform of Sierra Leone's education sector, in such areas as: payment and utilization of fees subsidy, grant-in-aid and other academic awards, subvention allocation to tertiary institutions, project and foreign aid management, backlog salary payment to teachers, budget process, illegal charges, ghost teachers, extension schools and procurement management. Embassy comment: The report is timely, as continued poor performance in public examinations is clearly correlated to the sector's quality. The Ministry of Education is renowned for excessive corruption, but is unlikely to react to the report without public encouragement. End Comment. -------------- BILATERAL RELATIONS -------------- ¶8. (U) Sierra Leone is set to benefit from the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program, which will rehabilitate 2,005 km of feeder roads, develop 241,000 hectare of irrigable swamps, and improve research facilities, equipment, and processing and storage facilities. This will hopefully boost agricultural production and food security in the country. ¶9. (U) A press release from the Press Attache to the EU stated that a Belgian consulate will open in Freetown and begin issuing Schengen visas before the end of 2009. Sierra Leone has lobbied the Belgian government to open a consulate, which will ease the burden of traveling to other countries in the sub-region to obtain visas. The German Embassy also expects to start issuing visas before the end of the calendar year. ¶10. (U) The Israeli Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Gideon Behar, presented his credentials to President Koroma and promised that the Israeli government will provide one year's worth of operational costs if Sierra Leone opens an embassy there. Ambassador Behar also assured President Koroma of Israel's commitment for strong bilateral ties in development and culture. In the past, the Israeli government funded the construction of the Parliament building, Post Office, Bank of Sierra Leone, and some Ministerial buildings. Further information regarding Israel's interest in Sierra Leone was reported reftel B. FEDZER