BURKINA FASO: WHY DID COMPAORE SKIP THE AFRICAN

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