Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NIAMEY382
2009-05-28 12:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
Update on Hadizatou Mani, Woman of Courage Award Recipient
how-toVZCZCXRO4858 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA RUEHTRO DE RUEHNM #0382 1481229 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281229Z MAY 09 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5066 INFO RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUCNTSC/TSCTP COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000382
C O R R E C T I V E C O P Y - PASS ADDRESS ADDED
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
DEPT PASS TO TSCTP COLLECTIVE
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KWMN SCUL NG
SUBJECT: Update on Hadizatou Mani, Woman of Courage Award Recipient
Ref: a) 08 Niamey 01062, b) Niamey 00273, c) Niamey 00406, d)
Niamey 00424
HADIZATOU MANI HAS REGAINED HER STRENGTH
----------------------------------------
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000382
C O R R E C T I V E C O P Y - PASS ADDRESS ADDED
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
DEPT PASS TO TSCTP COLLECTIVE
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KWMN SCUL NG
SUBJECT: Update on Hadizatou Mani, Woman of Courage Award Recipient
Ref: a) 08 Niamey 01062, b) Niamey 00273, c) Niamey 00406, d)
Niamey 00424
HADIZATOU MANI HAS REGAINED HER STRENGTH
--------------
1. (SBU) On May 10, PolOff and LES Pol Specialist traveled to Birni
N'Konni to deliver the State Department's Woman of Courage prize to
Mani Hadizatou (Ref A). Timidria, the local NGO that helped Mani
file her successful lawsuit against the Government of Niger for
failing to assist her under conditions of slavery, provided its
President, Weila Ilguilas, to accompany Embassy personnel to her
village. According to Timidria representatives, in preceding weeks
Hadizatou had been in poor health and confined to bed. Upon
visiting her, Embassy personnel confirmed that she was sick, but
noticed an apparent improvement in her health. (Note: we have no
further information regarding her specific health condition, the
nature of medications she is taking, or whether she is under ongoing
medical care. A visiting team of Spanish officials, including a
physician, did visit her recently in her home. End note.) Mani
admitted that she was now taking Western medication in conjunction
with traditional remedies. She also indicated her plans to travel
to Niamey more often, especially given her contacts in the capital.
Embassy personnel presented Hadizatou with the Woman of Courage
Award, which was not ready at the time of her trip to the Department
of State for the award ceremony last March.
GOVERNMENT OF NIGER DEPOSITS 10 MILLION FRANCS
-------------- -
2. (SBU) Embassy personnel asked Hadizatou several questions,
including the status of her children; she stated that her children
were still with her former "husband." In addition, she confirmed
that she had received the 10 million francs CFA (USD 20,000;
Exchange rate 500 FCFA = 1USD) in damages from the Government of
Niger (Refs A and B). Hadizatou also stated that she had used some
of the funds to invest in her new house, which is by far the nicest
house in the village. Embassy personnel asked whether she had
received the USD 1,000 cash prize awarded by an American NGO;
although she was aware that an award had been made, she was not
aware if money had been deposited in her bank account. Embassy
personnel urged her to check her account in Tahoua and verify that
the funds had been deposited.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Hadizatou Mani was truly grateful for the award that she
received from the State Department. She stated that she would like
to meet with Ambassador Allen again when she travels to Niamey. The
Embassy will follow up to ensure that she indeed received the $1,000
prize. End comment.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
ALLEN
C O R R E C T I V E C O P Y - PASS ADDRESS ADDED
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
DEPT PASS TO TSCTP COLLECTIVE
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KWMN SCUL NG
SUBJECT: Update on Hadizatou Mani, Woman of Courage Award Recipient
Ref: a) 08 Niamey 01062, b) Niamey 00273, c) Niamey 00406, d)
Niamey 00424
HADIZATOU MANI HAS REGAINED HER STRENGTH
--------------
1. (SBU) On May 10, PolOff and LES Pol Specialist traveled to Birni
N'Konni to deliver the State Department's Woman of Courage prize to
Mani Hadizatou (Ref A). Timidria, the local NGO that helped Mani
file her successful lawsuit against the Government of Niger for
failing to assist her under conditions of slavery, provided its
President, Weila Ilguilas, to accompany Embassy personnel to her
village. According to Timidria representatives, in preceding weeks
Hadizatou had been in poor health and confined to bed. Upon
visiting her, Embassy personnel confirmed that she was sick, but
noticed an apparent improvement in her health. (Note: we have no
further information regarding her specific health condition, the
nature of medications she is taking, or whether she is under ongoing
medical care. A visiting team of Spanish officials, including a
physician, did visit her recently in her home. End note.) Mani
admitted that she was now taking Western medication in conjunction
with traditional remedies. She also indicated her plans to travel
to Niamey more often, especially given her contacts in the capital.
Embassy personnel presented Hadizatou with the Woman of Courage
Award, which was not ready at the time of her trip to the Department
of State for the award ceremony last March.
GOVERNMENT OF NIGER DEPOSITS 10 MILLION FRANCS
-------------- -
2. (SBU) Embassy personnel asked Hadizatou several questions,
including the status of her children; she stated that her children
were still with her former "husband." In addition, she confirmed
that she had received the 10 million francs CFA (USD 20,000;
Exchange rate 500 FCFA = 1USD) in damages from the Government of
Niger (Refs A and B). Hadizatou also stated that she had used some
of the funds to invest in her new house, which is by far the nicest
house in the village. Embassy personnel asked whether she had
received the USD 1,000 cash prize awarded by an American NGO;
although she was aware that an award had been made, she was not
aware if money had been deposited in her bank account. Embassy
personnel urged her to check her account in Tahoua and verify that
the funds had been deposited.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Hadizatou Mani was truly grateful for the award that she
received from the State Department. She stated that she would like
to meet with Ambassador Allen again when she travels to Niamey. The
Embassy will follow up to ensure that she indeed received the $1,000
prize. End comment.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
ALLEN