Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NIAMEY552
2009-07-30 17:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
Mysterious Mining Monies: Opposition, Media Open
how-toVZCZCXRO0538 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #0552 2111716 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301716Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5215 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000552
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EMIN KCRP SOCI NG
SUBJECT: Mysterious Mining Monies: Opposition, Media Open
Pandora's Box Involving President's Family
Ref: a) Niamey 00527, b) Niamey 00521, c) Niamey 00511, Niamey
00378
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000552
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EMIN KCRP SOCI NG
SUBJECT: Mysterious Mining Monies: Opposition, Media Open
Pandora's Box Involving President's Family
Ref: a) Niamey 00527, b) Niamey 00521, c) Niamey 00511, Niamey
00378
1. (SBU) Summary: Niger's independent newspapers this week carried
the story of a multi-million dollar mining deal involving President
Tandja's son. Long a concern of the political opposition and civil
society, the issue of transparency and mining concessions again
surfaces during the week preceding the August 4 constitutional
referendum. This story, if verified, would confirm previous
opposition allegations of corruption and provide further ammunition
in their attempts to block President Tandja's plans to remain in
power during the final days in the run up to the referendum. End
summary.
Letters Reveal $5m Concession for Pres. Tandja's Son
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On July 27, several newspapers, including "Le Canard
Dechaine," "Opinions," and "Le Democrate" featured a copy of a
purported memorandum of agreement between Multimedia Communication
SARL and the son of the President, Hadia Toulaye Tandja on the one
hand, and Africa Resources (an Australian mineral firm) on the other
hand, detailing the creation of a company called "Niger Uranium
Ventures SA." In this transaction, signed on January 23, 2008, the
Manager of Multimedia Communications SARL, a reported political and
business crony of the president's family, and H.T. Tandja received a
commission of USD 5 million plus 25 percent of the new company's
shares.
3. (U) Independent media also released a second agreement signed by
the same parties on the same day allocating the cash and shares
received in African Uranium, a local company established to hold the
uranium exploration rights to the "Terzemasour 3 Permit." UK-listed
Brinkley Mining was the foreign investor in African Uranium through
wholly owned BMP7. According to public information on the Brinkley
website: "In accordance with the terms of a put option held by the
Company's Nigerien partner, BMP7 acquired in July 2008 the remaining
30 per cent of African Uranium for a price of US$1.75 million."
(Note: Use of such forward put options on shares held in
exploration companies could provide an ongoing source of illicit
income to Nigerien "partners" which could be at risk if the dealings
were reviewed. End note.)
Corruption in Mining Sector a Key Opposition Complaint
-------------- --------------
4. (U) On July 18, during the fifth convention of the Nigerian Party
for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS),Niger's main opposition party,
PNDS leader Mahamadou Issoufou alleged that the ruling class is
involved in corruption in the mining sector (ref A). He said,
"Corruption has plagued the uranium sector, where the allocation of
exploration permits was used by some well-identified individuals who
pocketed well-known commissions...the marketing of uranium
constitutes further evidence of the business fever that has caught
the regime." Reacting to these allegations, President Tandja stated
in Hausa during a recent press conference that he was "clean," and
dismissed the opposition leader's words as "mere political
accusations."
Comment:
--------------
5. (SBU) Reportedly President Tandja was resistant to the National
Assembly's move in January to create a commission to investigate the
allocation of mining permits and management of revenues deriving
from mineral concessions. Some analysts speculate President Tandja
feared deputies intended to investigate his family and friends who
were beneficiaries of such permits (ref D). These concerns may have
contributed to his decision to dissolve the National Assembly on May
26 (ref D).
6. (SBU) The political opposition and private media apparently
intend to score important points in their fight against President
Tandja's referendum plans in the few remaining days before the
referendum on August 4. Some suggest other political scandals are
yet to be revealed. End comment.
ALLEN
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EMIN KCRP SOCI NG
SUBJECT: Mysterious Mining Monies: Opposition, Media Open
Pandora's Box Involving President's Family
Ref: a) Niamey 00527, b) Niamey 00521, c) Niamey 00511, Niamey
00378
1. (SBU) Summary: Niger's independent newspapers this week carried
the story of a multi-million dollar mining deal involving President
Tandja's son. Long a concern of the political opposition and civil
society, the issue of transparency and mining concessions again
surfaces during the week preceding the August 4 constitutional
referendum. This story, if verified, would confirm previous
opposition allegations of corruption and provide further ammunition
in their attempts to block President Tandja's plans to remain in
power during the final days in the run up to the referendum. End
summary.
Letters Reveal $5m Concession for Pres. Tandja's Son
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On July 27, several newspapers, including "Le Canard
Dechaine," "Opinions," and "Le Democrate" featured a copy of a
purported memorandum of agreement between Multimedia Communication
SARL and the son of the President, Hadia Toulaye Tandja on the one
hand, and Africa Resources (an Australian mineral firm) on the other
hand, detailing the creation of a company called "Niger Uranium
Ventures SA." In this transaction, signed on January 23, 2008, the
Manager of Multimedia Communications SARL, a reported political and
business crony of the president's family, and H.T. Tandja received a
commission of USD 5 million plus 25 percent of the new company's
shares.
3. (U) Independent media also released a second agreement signed by
the same parties on the same day allocating the cash and shares
received in African Uranium, a local company established to hold the
uranium exploration rights to the "Terzemasour 3 Permit." UK-listed
Brinkley Mining was the foreign investor in African Uranium through
wholly owned BMP7. According to public information on the Brinkley
website: "In accordance with the terms of a put option held by the
Company's Nigerien partner, BMP7 acquired in July 2008 the remaining
30 per cent of African Uranium for a price of US$1.75 million."
(Note: Use of such forward put options on shares held in
exploration companies could provide an ongoing source of illicit
income to Nigerien "partners" which could be at risk if the dealings
were reviewed. End note.)
Corruption in Mining Sector a Key Opposition Complaint
-------------- --------------
4. (U) On July 18, during the fifth convention of the Nigerian Party
for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS),Niger's main opposition party,
PNDS leader Mahamadou Issoufou alleged that the ruling class is
involved in corruption in the mining sector (ref A). He said,
"Corruption has plagued the uranium sector, where the allocation of
exploration permits was used by some well-identified individuals who
pocketed well-known commissions...the marketing of uranium
constitutes further evidence of the business fever that has caught
the regime." Reacting to these allegations, President Tandja stated
in Hausa during a recent press conference that he was "clean," and
dismissed the opposition leader's words as "mere political
accusations."
Comment:
--------------
5. (SBU) Reportedly President Tandja was resistant to the National
Assembly's move in January to create a commission to investigate the
allocation of mining permits and management of revenues deriving
from mineral concessions. Some analysts speculate President Tandja
feared deputies intended to investigate his family and friends who
were beneficiaries of such permits (ref D). These concerns may have
contributed to his decision to dissolve the National Assembly on May
26 (ref D).
6. (SBU) The political opposition and private media apparently
intend to score important points in their fight against President
Tandja's referendum plans in the few remaining days before the
referendum on August 4. Some suggest other political scandals are
yet to be revealed. End comment.
ALLEN