Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LOME14
2009-01-14 17:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lome
Cable title:  

TOGO: PRESIDENT FAURE COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST

Tags:  SNAR ASEC PGOV PREL TO 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 141718Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8965
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LOME 000014 


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, INR, INL/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PGOV PREL TO
SUBJECT: TOGO: PRESIDENT FAURE COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST
DRUG TRAFFICKING

REF: A. LOME 718

B. LOME 657

C. 08 STATE 111195

Classified By: POLOFF SUSAN F. WALKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LOME 000014


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, INR, INL/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PGOV PREL TO
SUBJECT: TOGO: PRESIDENT FAURE COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST
DRUG TRAFFICKING

REF: A. LOME 718

B. LOME 657

C. 08 STATE 111195

Classified By: POLOFF SUSAN F. WALKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. President Faure requested a meeting with
Ambassador Hawkins to discuss the growing drug trade in Togo,
specifically a drug trade organization (DTO) recently
apprehended in Lome. He candidly and knowledgeably discussed
particulars of that case, the need for increased cooperation
between Togo and the United States, and roadblocks to
addressing the problems. The Ambassador emphasized the need
to take a strong stand on drug issues and briefed the
president on U.S. commitment to continue its assistance to
Togo. While President Faure seemed willing to move forward on
everything discussed, only time will tell if he is truly able
to take action.


2. (C) The president started the conversation by telling the
Ambassador he had originally requested the meeting because of
the lack of action concerning the removal of Jorge
Solano-Cortez from Togolese custody (ref A, B). He expressed
that he was pleased when he found out Solano-Cortez is to be
expelled tomorrow. Ambassador Hawkins explained that slow
action on the part of the Togolese prosecutor (who was
preparing his own case) contributed to the delay. President
Faure inquired about the USG also taking custody of Willem
Zabieh, the ringleader of the group. Ambassador Hawkins
explained that the United States does not currently have an
arrest warrant for him, but the possibility is being pursued.


3. (C) Ambassador Hawkins underscored the importance of
making a public stand against the drug trade, referring
specifically to the fact that Togolese Parliamentary Deputy
Minsoabe Barnabo, who is believed to be the principal
Togolese facilitator for the DTO, has yet to be arrested due
to his parliamentary immunity. (Note. It was later determined
that Barnabo is not even in Togo, but in France for medical
reasons. End Note). She noted that people will think
President Faure does not have the will to fight drug
trafficking if he lets Barnabo go free. Faure assured her
that the will is there and vaguely described the next steps
to charge the parliamentarian. The Ambassador inquired about
a specific provision in the Penal Code of Togo which states
there is no immunity for parliamentarians who commit grave
crimes such as murder or traffic drugs; President Faure
promised to look into it.


4. (C) President Faure expressed an interest in continued
cooperation between the GOT and the USG. He noted that the
Togolese justice system is not capable of handling cases of
this magnitude. In-fighting among the various security
sectors -- gendarme, police, and the intelligence service --
make it difficult to get reliable information. Faure stated
the need for more initial training on not just internal
security issues, but also specific drug interdiction
training. He was happy to learn that an assessment team is
scheduled to come to Togo to evaluate counternarcotics issues
across the entire criminal justice system. The president
later expressed his intent to have the ANR (Agence National
de Renseignement; the national intelligence agency) share the
names of suspected traffickers with US authorities and asked
to have them run through criminal databases.


5. (C) The president showed the depth of his understanding of
the problem when he discussed possible avenues forward. He
noted that there is no political will in Togo or West Africa
generally to fight trafficking. When asked about the
participation of his family in the trade, he said he had
talked to a brother about it (he was not specific as to which
brother) and did not intend to support illegal activities no
matter who was involved. President Faure also noted that drug
money could influence the electoral process in Togo, which
could further destabilize the already weak country. He said
that African countries do not cooperate with each other on
drug issues as they do with the United States. Ambassador
Hawkins noted that since stopping the drug trade altogether
is nearly impossible, the best strategy is to make it more
difficult for traffickers to operate.


6. (C) Comment. President Faure spent about 45 minutes with
just the Ambassador and PolOff; he had no advisors present in
the meeting. He was forthcoming with information and made
astute comments on possible consequences of the expansion of
the drug trade in Togo. Ambassador Hawkins was frank with the
president about the need that he be seen as a reliable
partner in the fight against crime and corruption. However,
although Faure has expressed on numerous occasions that he
wishes to crack down on the drug trade, the embassy has yet
to see any concrete actions (such as charging Deputy Barnabo)
that back up his words. End Comment.


HAWKINS