Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BANGUI11
2010-01-25 08:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangui
Cable title:  

CAR: MINISTER REQUESTS MORE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, RETURN

Tags:  AID EAID ECON PREL CT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6605
PP RUEHGI
DE RUEHGI #0011 0250843
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 250843Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1129
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0561
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1428
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

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