President Tandja Meets with Rebel Leaders, Ceasefire to

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000333 DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/AE PLS PASS TO TSCTP COLLECTIVE PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID AF/WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI SCUL PTER PHUM NG SUBJECT: President Tandja Meets with Rebel Leaders, Ceasefire to Continue, Arms to be Laid Down, Amnesty Discussed Ref: a) Niamey 00235 , b) Niamey 00109, c) Niamey 00090, d) 08 Niamey 01116 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: President Tandja met May 3-4 with rebel leaders in Agadez, marking their first dialogue since conflict commenced in February 2007. Following April 6-7 peace talks between a GON delegation and three rebel groups in Sirte, President Tandja addressed their bid for amnesty and reintegration. This reflects a change in GON tactics, wherein President Tandja had steadfastly refused to "negotiate" with what he termed to be "bandits." The GON believes the next phase will involve a reconciliation conference to be held in Niger's north in the near future. End summary. President Tandja Reaches Out to Rebel Leaders -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On May 3, President Tandja met with representatives of three rebel factions in the northern regional capital of Agadez, on the heels of April 6-7 peace talks in Sirte, Libya (Ref A). During the meeting, Tandja promised amnesty to those rebels who put down their weapons. Afterwards, he invited them to the launching of a uranium mine in nearby Imouraren. The rights to this uranium mine were granted to Areva, the French mining parastatal. High Commissioner Reports on Progress of Peace Talks -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On April 23, DCM, Pol Officer, and LES Pol Specialist met with Mohamed Anacko, High Commissioner for the Restoration of Peace to obtain insights regarding the April 6-7 peace talks in Sirte, Libya. Anacko said that the peace talks, preceded by bilateral in Tripoli on cooperation in dealing with border security and migration issues, were productive, in that all three rebel Tuareg groups participated in open discussion on unresolved issues. These included rebel amnesty, reintegration into society and the military, increased revenue sharing from the exploitation of natural resources from the north, concerns about environmental damage and health effects from uranium mining, and the lifting of the state of alert for Agadez region. ¶4. (SBU) Anacko said the 15-member GON delegation included the Minister of Interior, the Governor of Agadez, military leaders, civil society representatives, traditional and religious leaders, and himself. He emphasized that the newly-assembled group did not have pre-set talking points, and had gone to Sirte to kick-start peace talks with rebels. The Front Patriotique Nigerien (FPN),a dissident group of the Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ),and the Front de Force de Redressement (FFR) participated, as did Libyan President Qadhafy; Anacko underscored that all major stakeholders were represented, which the GON took as a sign of good will and an important basis for subsequent discussions. Anacko said that the GON hoped the next step would be a reconciliation forum to be held in Arlit, also in Niger's north, in the near future. He reflected on the February 2009 Peace and Security Forum in Niamey (Refs B and C) as setting the stage for talks, and again thanked the USG for supporting the October 2008 ESF-funded, USIP-facilitated conflict management workshop (Ref D). Anacko encouraged the USG to remain involved in the peace process, and to consider funding the reconciliation forum. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Although the Agadez and Sirte peace talks brought together conflict stakeholders, which has so far resulted in a continuation of the de facto ceasefire and pledge to lay down arms, it has not yet led to a written agreement. President Tandja's personal involvement is noteworthy; since the conflict started in February 2007 he has refused to "negotiate" with rebels at the point of a gun. With the de facto ceasefire to continue, and arms to be laid down, the door is finally open to dialogue and more constructive measures. End comment. ¶6. (U) Minimize considered. Allen