NIGER TO HOST PEACE FORUM ON THE NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 NIAMEY 000090

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI PTER SCUL PINR PHUM ML NG
SUBJECT: NIGER TO HOST PEACE FORUM ON THE NORTH

REF: A. 08 NIAMEY 1116

B. USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0017 09

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Classified By: Ambassador Bernadette M. Allen, Reasons: Section 1.4 b/d


1. (C) Summary: The Government of Niger (GON) plans to host
a Peace Forum to address continuing instability in the north
of Niger and Mali on February 25 -27 in Niamey. The event
will gather roughly 80 government and civil society leaders
to discuss how best to deal with underlying causes of
conflict in the north of each country, with indigenous ethnic
groups invited to participate. The forum spins off an
October 2008 Economic Support Fund (ESF)-financed, U.S.
Institute of Peace (USIP)-facilitated workshop on the
prevention and management of conflict (Ref A),and it is
encouraging to learn of the potential fruit that the USIP
activity may bear. The forum, to occur in the month that
marks the two-year anniversary of the current conflict in
Niger, comes at an important juncture -- the start of an
election year. End summary.

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Peace Forum to Take Place in Niamey on Feb. 25-27
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2. (C) On February 16, Ambassador Allen (accompanied by DCM
Whitaker) met with the High Commission for the Restoration of
Peace (HCRP) Commissioner Mohamed Anacko to inquire about a
Peace Forum that Anacko is organizing to take place in Niamey
from February 25-27, regarding northern Niger and Mali. The
event will gather together parliamentarians, governors,
mayors, traditional leaders, elders, clerics, tribal
chieftains, and civil society and nongovernmental (NGO)
representatives to include Tuareg, Arab, Toubou,
Songhai/Zarma, and Fulani/Peulh participation.

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Event Seeks to End Hostilities, Consolidate Peace
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3. (C) Anacko reported that GON President Tandja and GON
Minister of Interior (MOI) Albade support the initiative.
MOI Albade is expected to open the event. The first day,s
work will consist of plenary sessions; the second and third
days will involve working groups focusing on specific issues
(such as ending conflict, smuggling, banditry and other
criminal acts of common concern). The event seeks to: get
armed groups to cease hostilities and lay down their arms;
assist armed groups in returning to civil society; and
consolidating peace throughout the sub-region.

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ESF-Funded, USIP-Facilitated Workshop Event Catalyst
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4. (C) Anacko said that the Peace Forum had its origins in
the October 2008 Prevention and Management of Conflict
workshop facilitated by the USIP held at Park W in Tapoa (Ref
A). The participants in the ESF-financed workshop met
shortly after the event, and decided to pursue a peaceful
resolution to the conflict in the troubled North; many
planned or are participants in the Peace Forum. After the
meeting, Anacko proposed the concept to President Tandja, who
agreed and delegated Anacko with the task of organizing and
holding the event, provided it remained a Niger-Mali event,
excluding outsiders (he specifically cited Algeria and Libya)
from the discussions. Anacko does expect to invite
in-country GON partner senior representation (i.e., United
States, Canada, European Union, France) to the event,s
opening ceremony. Realizing that many of the issues involved
in underlying discontent in Niger were common to Mali, the
event planners discussed the proposal with Malian
counterparts, who agreed to participate during the course of
meetings of a working-level committee, with Mali to send
approximately 15 participants.

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Engaging Experienced Hands; Outreach Activities Planned

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5. (C) Anacko suggested that the Peace Forum will essentially
be a multi-phase activity. He added that he has invited
former High Commissioners, retired senior military leaders,
to participate so that they could share the benefits of their
previous experiences in maintaining peace. Following the
event, Peace Forum participants will form working groups to
engage in outreach activities to armed groups and the
communities affected by conflict, smuggling and other
destabilizing activities. Working groups are to report
findings that will be shared with Nigerien President Tandja
and Malian President Toure. Anacko then hopes to hold
meetings in a neutral country; he cited as a possibility
Senegal (and specifically noted that Paris and a few other
locations may not be workable because some insurgency leaders
reside in those places). The outreach and follow-on
activities would take place over one to two months,
commencing as soon as two weeks after the Peace Forum.
Anacko provided a background document explaining the
rationale for the event, and soliciting $140,000 for the
Peace Forum, outreach activities, and a 4x4 vehicle. He also
provided the list of likely Peace Forum participants. He
reported that Canada and the European Union will fund some of
the forum. (Note: In addition to the USIP training, the U.S.
Government can take some credit for helping the HCRP become a
better organized, more efficient operation as a result of a
$19,000 grant from the Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism
Partnership (TSCTP) Public Diplomacy (PD) allocation provided
to HCRP in the form of computer equipment (workstations,
printers) and internet connectivity in March 2008. End
note.)

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Peace Forum Participants
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6. (SBU) The list of the 79 proposed Peace Forum participants
is as follows:

a. Agadez Component Based in Niamey:

Issoufou Bako - Minister of Environment and the Fight Against
Desertification
Syad Kato - Minister of Animal Resources
Mohamed AKotey - former Minister of Environment and the Fight
Against Desertification
Birgi Raffini - National Assembly Deputy
Mano Agali - National Assembly Deputy
National Assembly Deputy from Bilma (unnamed)
Assayad Sidi Mohamed - National Assembly Deputy
Cherfi Rabidine - National Assembly Deputy
Mahmoud Sinad - National Assembly Deputy
Mohamed Anacko - High Commissioner for the Restoration of
Peace
Amadou Laouel Edmond - Community leader
Akoli Daouel - Community leader
Dr. Issouf Agarya - Advisor in the Office of the Presidency
Ali Sidi Adam - Advisor in the Office of the Presidency

b. Agadez Region:

Ousmane Amadou - Community leader
Mouloul Wamichikane - Community leader
Abdallah Illias - Mayor of Gougaram
Azara Mamadou - (unspecified)
Silimane Hyard = former rebel commander
Hadji Ahmaya - Religious leader
Adam Efanguel - Mayor of Tabelot
Mayor of Dirkou - (unnamed)
Hassane - Advisor, High Commission of Local Governments, from
Fachi
Madame Kadi Francois - Women,s Association of Agadez
Ismaguel Nour - former rebel commander
Abba Malam Boukar - Governor of Agadez Region
Elhadj Biki - Tuareg chieftain
Ahmed Wadde - former rebel commander
Colonel Elias Almahadi - Community leader

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Malfo Akano - former mayor
Anastafided - Tuareg chieftain

c. Diffa Region:

Issa Lamine - Minister of Public Health
Lamido Moumouni Harouna - Minister of Equipment
Mahadi Moumoune - Community leader
Ahmadou Kanta - Fulani Chieftain
Community leader from Agadem (unnamed)

d. Zinder Region:

Hamid Algabit - President, High Council of Local Governments
Bazoum Mohamed - National Assembly Deputy

e. Niamey:

Mamane Oumarou - National mediator
Nouhou Arzika - Mouvement Citoyen (Citizens, Movement ) a
civil society body)
Sanoussi Tambari Jackou - National Assembly Deputy
Dr. Bague Hima - ANDDH (Association Nigerienne des Droits de
l,Homme)
Dr. Gandou Zakara - ODLH (Organisation pour le Defense des
Libertes Humaines)
Antarou Hassane - National Assembly Deputy
General Seyni Garba - former High Commissioner
Colonel Hamidou Maigari - former High Commissioner
Colonel Sofiani Amadou - former High Commissioner
Mme. Benbello Agnes - Association des Femmes (Women,s
Association)
Prof. Djibo Hamani - University of Niamey
Dr. El Back Adam - University of Niamey
Ewanguey Mohamed - former rebel combatant
Mme. Abdoul Wahab Aichatou - Association des Femmes (Women,s
Association)

f. Tahoua Region:

Goumour Ibrahim - former rebel commander
Mohamed Abdoulahi - Minister of Mines and Energy
Ikta Mohamed - former rebel commander
Alhadi Alhadj - former rebel commander
Hamed Ahmed Halilou - former rebel commander
Ousseini Bilal - former rebel commander
Ali Abdourahamane - National Assembly Deputy
Nation Assembly Deputy from Tassara (unnamed)
Colonel Alhassane Mohamed - former rebel combatant

g. Mali Delegation:

Mme. Halimatou Sothar
Safo Kabangou
Mme. Niantao Simone
Dr. Diallo Deydiya
Dr. Mariam Djibrilla Maiga
Iyad Agali
Mohamed Intala
Aroudeiny Ag Hamatou
Mme. Honkri
(plus 6 participants to be named)

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Comment
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7. (C) Anacko emphasized that he discussed with President
Tandja the toll that Niger,s two-year conflict has taken on
the population (especially in Agadez) in casualties, a loss
of tourism revenue and related jobs, and reduced access to
one-half of Niger due to the state of emergency placed on the
Agadez region for the past 18 months. The revelation of a
peace forum on the North comes as most welcome news,
particularly as it lays a foundation for this year,s local
and national elections.

Minimize considered.

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ALLEN