BURKINA FASO: DAS FITZGERALD MEETS WITH PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000816

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2019
TAGS: PREL KDEM PINR PGOV MASS UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: DAS FITZGERALD MEETS WITH PRIME
MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENSE

REF: OUAGADOUGOU 515

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


1. (C) Summary. In separate meetings with AF DAS Fitzgerald,
Burkina Faso's Prime Minister and Minister of Defense asked
for assistance in coping with the aftermath of the September
1st flooding. They also highlighted President Compaore's
regional mediation efforts and elaborated on the GOBF's views
concerning key political issues in the region. Both
expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral
relationship between the United States and Burkina Faso. End
Summary.


2. (C) Prime Minister Tertius Zongo met for nearly an hour
with DAS Fitzgerald September 16. Near the end of a relaxed
meeting, Zongo asked how Burkina Faso could quickly obtain
pre-fabricated field hospitals from the United States. The
major hospital in downtown Ouagadougou, he said, was
seriously damaged by the floods, and replacement structures
are needed urgently to handle health care demands. This
request was a key item on Zongo's agenda for the meeting.


3. (C) Zongo said that the Israeli Ambassador to Burkina
Faso, resident in Abidjan, had offered to obtain
pre-fabricated, containerized hospital units from Israel, and
had suggested that the USG might be willing to fund them.
DAS Fitzgerald responded coolly to the idea of U.S. funding,
but responded that there could be other ways to assist.
According to Zongo, the GOBF has already identified a site
where the field hospitals could be set up and promised to
provide the Embassy a detailed project proposal (Comment:
Post has already approached AFRICOM about this request. End
Comment.)


4. (C) Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense
commented on regional political issues, especially the
Ivorian peace process. The Prime Minister had just returned
from a short trip to Cote d'Ivoire where he and his Ivorian
counterpart chaired a joint Burkinabe-Ivorian Council of
Ministers. This was part of a broader mission headed by
President Compaore that the Ivoirians requested on short
notice. Compaore stayed longer, but Zongo said that he
himself could not be gone longer due to ongoing flood-relief
efforts.


5. (C) Zongo said that the Ivorian electoral process has
been delayed as a result of "data merging difficulties" for 3
of 68 electoral districts. He added that he really was
convinced the reasons were "technical" and not political. In
Zongo's view, Gbagbo has a good chance of winning the
elections, and further delays actually may hurt his chances
rather than help them.


6. (C) Zongo and MOD Yero Boly discussed regional issues
including Algeria, Niger, Mali, Togo and Guinea. Both
painted a picture of Compaore as the "adult supervision" in
the region. Zongo spoke disparagingly of the leadership in
Guinea. According to the PM, Compaore had returned from a
visit to Guinea "discouraged" and concerned about Dadis's
mental stability. Turning to the AQIM threat, Zongo
suggested that Algeria and Mali needed closer collaboration
and that a regional meeting would help resolve the issue.
Zongo also said that Compaore remains very involved as
facilitator in Togo.



7. (C) Zongo and Boly underlined how pleased they were with
the positive bilateral relationship between the United States
and Burkina Faso. Zongo spoke glowingly of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation's efforts and praised the relationship
with the Embassy. Boly stressed that the bilateral military
relationship was strong. As DAS Fitzgerald highlighted USG
appreciation for Burkina Faso's hosting Special Operations
aircraft, Boly responded that there was absolutely no problem
with the planes. He also said that it was due to USG support
that Burkina Faso had been able to deploy PKO troops to
Darfur.


8. (C) Comment: The message of both meetings was clear:
Burkina Faso values the relationship with the United States
and likes the present trajectory. Both Zongo and Boly were
relaxed and at ease. The aftermath of the September 1st
flooding continues to preoccupy the leadership, and Zongo is
looking for assistance to help with long-term rehabilitation
efforts. Post requests that the Department, USAID and
AFRICOM investigate the deployment of a temporary hospital to
meet the soaring demand.

DAS Fitzgerald has cleared this cable.

OUAGADOUGO 00000816 002 OF 002


LAEUCHLI