FOREIGN MINISTER UNHAPPY, AND PERHAPS UNLOVED

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000064

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SL
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER UNHAPPY, AND PERHAPS UNLOVED

REF: 08 FREETOWN 561

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for Reason 1.4 (B)


1. (C) The Ambassador met Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister
Zainab Bangura on February 16 to provided a tour d'horizon of
the new U.S. Administration's priorities and the Secretary's
stated interest in assistance programs. The Minister had
just returned to Sierra Leone on February 13 following a
prolonged trip outside the country, and had requested the
meeting with the Ambassador; the Minister also simultaneously
canceled the Ambassador's previously scheduled meeting with
the President (later rescheduled for February 27). The
Foreign Minister (FoMin) noted the excitement Sierra Leoneans
attached to the inauguration of President Obama, adding that
her own son had traveled to D.C. to witness the event in
person.


2. (C) The FoMin complained about donor nations using NGOs
to implement foreign assistance programs, noting that funds
should be used to improve the capacity of, and resources
available to, GoSL officials, who could then better monitor
and control NGO activities. She encouraged the United States
to give direct budget support to the GoSL and work at
training and equipping ministry officials, although she
understood that such support was unlikely to be forthcoming.
The Ambassador countered that major NGO's made significant
contributions in many countries and most worked to support a
nation's basic development needs. The FoMin characterized
corruption as "ingrained" in Sierra Leone, and had earlier
complained that her boss, President Koroma, was "stubborn."
Up to this point, he had refused to take necessary action
against corrupt or incompetent officials within his
administration, although he has supported the strong
anti-corruption commission and new law.


3. (C) Bangura's harsh comments on the President were odd
for any senior official, particularly one who was at the
start of the regime one of President Koroma's favorites. Her
current bitterness, frequent attacks on her by the media for
ineffectiveness, and her prolonged and poorly explained
absences, hint that her position in the administration may be
precarious (Note: Reftel identified Bangura's apparent
fatigue and disenchantment with her position. End Note).
Significantly, she did not accompany President Koroma to the
AU summit earlier in the year. The media charges may not be
baseless; it appears even her Deputy Foreign Minister could
not get reliable information on when Bangura was going to
return from her latest trip and had to schedule himself for
the Presidential meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. Her
response to media attacks have also been clumsy and
unconvincing, particularly an interview she engineered with
one paper with questions of the "you are wonderful at your
job; what's your secret?" variety. President Koroma's
cabinet reshuffle has been expected for months; while Bangura
is not the worst performer, and has been the "star" in
Koroma's constellation until the past month. she clearly is
now off her game; an inauspicious time as Koroma begins to
consider who will be sitting in what chair for the next year
of his administration.
PERRY