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