PRESIDENT KOROMA WANTS HIGH LEVEL USG

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000404 SIPDIS DEPT PASS USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2019 TAGS: EAID PREL SL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KOROMA WANTS HIGH LEVEL USG REPRESENTATIVE AT CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING IN LONDON Classified By: CDA Glenn Fedzer for reason 1.4 (D) ¶1. (U) On October 12, President Ernest Bai Koroma passed through his personal assistant a request that the United States Government endorse Sierra Leone's Consultative Group (CG) meeting in London November 18-19 by sending a high level delegation. The meeting, which is broken down into a Trade and Investment Forum on the first day and an exposition entitled "Engaging Development Partners" on day two, will highlight Koroma's second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, his "Agenda For Change" to possible investors and donor partners. Koroma suggested AFRICOM Commander Gen. Kip Ward as a possibility, as he was the highest level USG visitor to Sierra Leone since Senator Bill Nelson (FL) in December 2008. USAID is currently considering sending their AF/W office director. ¶2. (U) Comment: Post supports Koroma's request for several reasons: -- Provides an opportunity to underscore a successful democracy in the region, in contrast to events in neighboring Guinea; -- Reciprocates Koroma's intent to expand and deepen ties with the USG, as evidenced by his government's signature on the first permanent bilateral maritime assistance treaty in West Africa, the expulsion of narcotics traffickers into United States custody, and Sierra Leone's position (nearly unique in Africa) to support the USG position on Kosovo; -- Public opportunity to elaborate on USG assistance programs already in place; -- Chance for a senior official to meet President Koroma for consultations on Guinea without needing to overcome the logistical hurdles of a trip to Freetown. ¶3. (C) Comment Continued: The request may also be grounded in the intent by many in Sierra Leone's government to broaden their donor support beyond the United Kingdom. The Sierra Leoneans have expressed resentment in the past over their perception that the UK "steers the ship," and controls their bilateral relations with other partners. British assistance has been very generous, but also frequently delayed over transparency or capacity concerns. Koroma may believe that a strong USG endorsement at the CG meeting will counterbalance UK caution and give comfort to other potential donors and investors that Sierra Leone has put the civil war behind it, and is ready to put their funds to good use. End Comment. FEDZER