Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OUAGADOUGOU601
2009-07-28 10:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

BURKINA FASO: WHY DID COMPAORE SKIP THE AFRICAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV LY UV 
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DE RUEHOU #0601 2091047
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281047Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5248
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000601 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV LY UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: WHY DID COMPAORE SKIP THE AFRICAN
UNION SUMMIT?

Classified By: CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000601

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV LY UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: WHY DID COMPAORE SKIP THE AFRICAN
UNION SUMMIT?

Classified By: CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Neither the President nor the Prime
Minister of Burkina Faso attended the recent African (AU)
Summit in Libya, sending instead the relatively insignificant
Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA). While scheduling
conflicts were given as the official justification for their
absence, growing tensions between Libya and Burkina Faso in
fact motivated this decision. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Neither Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore nor his
Prime Minister Tertius Zongo attended the thirteenth African
Union summit in Sirte (Libya) from 24 June - 3 July 2009.
Instead, they sent Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoda, who
himself admits to being no heavyweight in foreign policy
matters. This was clearly a slap in the face to Libyan
leader Moammar Qadhafi, the host of the event. According to
a senior MFA official we spoke with, the diplomatic
justification for their absence was "scheduling conflicts",
but the real reason was historic tensions between the two
heads of State. A week prior to the Summit, French
Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Francois Goldblatt told Charge
that according to his sources Compaore had not yet decided if
he would attend, and the French were hoping he would not.


4. (C) Tensions have increasingly characterized the
relationship between Compaore and Qadhafi, especially since
the 2007 Accra AU Summit. Qadhafi resents Compaore's
reticence to subscribe to his view of a "United States of
Africa." On the other hand, Compaore resents Qadhafi's
assumption that Burkina should automatically support
Qadhafi's vision of a single African government.


5. (C) Another important reason behind the tensions is
Burkina's recognition of, and relations with, Israel. In
2008, and much to Qadhafi's dismay, Compaore attended the
sixtieth anniversary celebration of the creation of the State
of Israel. Qadhafi took this as a form of pan-African
treason. Compaore told then Ambassador Jackson that Qadhafi
had actually yelled at him over the phone. As Compaore
increasingly sees himself as a regional leader, he did not
take this well. In more recent meeting Compaore mocked
Qadhafi for calling himself "the king of kings." Other
Burkinabe officials have told us on several occasions that
they have responded to Libyan demarches by pointing out that
Burkina Faso is a "sovereign country."


6. (C) COMMENT: Compaore sent Qadhafi a clear message by
not attending the AU Summit. Burkina Faso is eager to
demonstrate a growing influence in the region. Perhaps
Burkina Faso's diplomatic rapprochement with the United
States and the growing bilateral military relationship have
also strengthened Compaore's resolve to face up to Libya and
assert his independence. In the past, Compaore was willing to
play the subservient role to Qadhafi. Now, Compaore sees
himself as a reputable statesman with a pan-African mediation
role that brings him recognition and respect from his peers.
That stature, and his desire to cultivate it, may also
strengthen Compaore's resolve to make foreign policy
decisions independently and sometimes in confrontation with
what Libya might want or expect. END COMMENT.
LAEUCHLI