CAMEROON: CIVAIR DIRECTOR SAYS CAMAIRCO STALLED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000247 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CM EAIR ECON SUBJECT: CAMEROON: CIVAIR DIRECTOR SAYS CAMAIRCO STALLED REF: 08 YAOUNDE 587 ¶1. (SBU) In a February 26 meeting with Pol/Econ Chief, Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) Sama Juma Ignatius said he was awaiting more information to finalize the investigation into the 2007 Kenya Airways crash. The government is breaking up a long held monopoly on airport ground handling services and hoping to build a perimeter around its major airports. Juma was critical of Camairco, which has a new manager but does not appear to be getting off the ground. End summary. 2007 Kenya Airways Crash -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief delivered a February 5 letter from the National Transportation Safety Board requesting an update on the status of the investigation of the April 2007 Kenya Airways Flight 507 crash in Cameroon. Juma said the Government of Cameroon (GRC) had already compiled its report on the crash but was waiting for some additional information from Kenya about the crew. Once the information is received, the Minister of Transportation will review it and share it more broadly, which he thought would happen by mid-March. Airports -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Juma noted that a 1998 law abolished monopolies in the aviation sector and that the Government of Cameroon (GRC) is taking steps to end the monopoly in ground handling services currently enjoyed by Aeorports du Cameroon (ADC),a parastatal. ADC has objected, pointing to substantial recent investments in ground handling equipment. Nonetheless, Juma agreed that service quality at Cameroon Airports was poor despite the steep prices charged to users. The CAA is doing a study of ground handling rates in Africa to assess whether rates in Cameroon need to be adjusted (note: the landing and handling fees at Cameroon's airports are said to be the highest in the world after Tokyo's, per reftel.) End note.) The World Bank is helping the CCAA improve airport infrastructure, including building a security fence or wall around Douala and Yaounde airports. The CCAA is in the process of doing a feasibility study to begin this process. Camairco -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Juma said "nothing" has happened to build Camairco since a General Manager of the new company was named in December 2008. (Note: national carrier Camair entered liquidation and was replaced by Camairco in 2008. End note.) The new General Manager, French citizen Gilbert Minonneau, is controversial and has yet to put in place a management team, according to Juma, who questioned his qualifications to run an airline since he is a pilot with no prior experience running an airline. Nems' candidacy was reportedly proposed by U.S. company Lion Aviation Group, which has reportedly been awarded an 18 month contract to manage Camairco before handing turning it over to the GRC. In January 2009, Juma gave Camairco a list of requirements to start up again, including a need to submit its recently purchased Boeing 767-300 for heavy maintenance. Juma said it would take at least three months to certify the airline for operations but he has not heard back from the company since submitting his requirements. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Cameroon,s civil aviation sector continues to be plagued by corruption, stagnation and mismanagement. The CCAA, with World Bank support, has been promising to upgrade airport infrastructure for years with no evident progress. Douala airport remains unfenced--pedestrians and the occasional cows remain unimpeded as they wander across the runway--and the screening equipment provided by the USG in the course of Cameroon,s Open Sky negotiations has not been upgraded and is operated by untrained police officials more interested in soliciting bribes than effectively protecting aircraft security. ¶6. (SBU) Camairco,s woes, then, are unsurprising. The aviation sector has traditionally been rife with corruption and bad governance, and Camairco,s predecessor, CAMAIR, failed in large part as a result of the same cronyism and backdoor dealing that seems to characterize its most recent incarnation. Juma is a longtime Embassy contact and a knowledgeable, approachable interlocutor. He has faced off YAOUNDE 00000247 002 OF 002 criticism from ADC for breaking its monopoly and his frustration with Camairco reflects a recognition that, once again, the national airline appears heading into suspect leadership, purchases and deals. GARVEY