CAR: MINISTER REQUESTS MORE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, RETURN

UNCLAS BANGUI 000011 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AID EAID ECON PREL CT SUBJECT: CAR: MINISTER REQUESTS MORE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, RETURN OF PEACE CORPS REF: A. BANGUI 0009 ¶B. 09 BANGUI 0235 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador and DCM met with Minister of Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation Sylvain Maliko and his deputy on January 22 to discuss U.S. development assistance to the Central African Republic (CAR). The meeting was at Maliko's request. Maliko praised the high level of U.S. humanitarian assistance to the CAR, but lamented the absence of USAID and stressed the tremendously beneficial role of the Peace Corps before the withdrawal of volunteers in 1997. He requested the return of that agency to CAR as soon as possible. The Ambassador described our major development projects - the Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD) project and the road construction project between Bozoum and Bossangoa - and made very clear to Maliko that additional development assistance would hinge on the CARG's cooperation with existing projects. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Minister of Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation Sylvain Maliko requested a meeting with the Ambassador on January 22 to request additional USG development assistance and the return of the Peace Corps. Up front, Maliko admitted that development is often slowed by a lack of coordination and internal rivalries within the CARG. He acknowledged that the U.S. provides considerable humanitarian assistance to the CAR through international organizations such as the World Food Program and Global Fund, but asked why the U.S. is not more directly involved in the UNDP-sponsored Poverty Reduction Strategy. Maliko commented that, prior to the withdrawal of volunteers in 1997, the Peace Corps was successful providing agricultural and English-language training. He requested the return of the Peace Corps as soon as possible. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador explained that the U.S. Embassy has been rebuilding its capacity since reopening in 2005, but still does not have resident USAID personnel. The PRADD project and roads project are specifically targeted to helping Central Africans at the grassroots level improve their economic prospects. The Ambassador noted that we have experienced some CARG-generated setbacks with these projects (see REFTELS),and Embassy staff are frequently detained by various CARG authorities when attempting to leave Bangui to visit project sites. The Ambassador made clear that we are not working against the CARG, and that future development assistance will be impossible if elements of the CARG do not cooperate with the current projects. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador requested Maliko's personal assistance to obtain the cooperation of other ministries and isolate those officials who are only interested in lining their pockets. Maliko promised to follow up on our requests and also asked for additional information on the PRADD project. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Post contacts have offered conflicting reports on Maliko's honesty and reliability, but the general consensus is that he is one of the better ministers and that he does have influence with President Bozize. We plan to provide Maliko with the requested information and continue to build a relationship with him and the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation, who also attended the meeting. Maliko's comments regarding the Peace Corps are typical - we get more requests for Peace Corps volunteers than for visa services. The CARG has formally requested the return of the Peace Corps and Post continues to support this as perhaps the single most effective engagement we could have in the CAR. COOK