Charge Meets with Junta;

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000129

SIPDIS
NOFORN
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/25
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI US NG PTER PINR EAID EAGR MASS
SUBJECT: Charge Meets with Junta;

REF: 10 STATE 16833; 10 ROME 0025; USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0048 10
USDAO NIAMEY IIR 6 928 0042 10

CLASSIFIED BY: Eric Whitaker, CDA, State, Embassy Niamey; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)


1. (C/NF) Summary: On February 25, Brigadier General Souleyman
Salou and Colonel Moussa Gros, Senior Military Advisor to the CSRD
President, met with ChargC) d'Affaires Whitaker in a frank and
productive session that broached a wide variety of topics. General
Salou opened by stating his pride at receiving the U.S. delegation;
highlighting the friendship between the two countries, he expressed
his desire that relations be deepened in the future. He
acknowledged that the U.S. Government did not condone forcible
changes of government, but noted Niger had reached a point of no
return and that the military felt it compelled to act decisively.
General Salou said the transition period would involve political
decisions made by an inclusive Consultative Council, appealed for
U.S. assistance regarding coming food insecurity, requested the
renewal of bilateral military-to-military cooperation and security
assistance, stated that all political parties would be held
"equidistant," and emphasized that government structures continued
to operate from the secretary general level on down. End summary.



Brigadier General Salou, Colonel Gros Receive Embassy Team

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2. (C/NF) On February 25, during a 40-minute warm and cordial
meeting conducted in French at the Air Force Headquarters in
Niamey, Brigadier General Souleymane Salou, Supreme Council for the
Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) member and uncle of CSRD President
Salou Djibo, and Colonel Moussa Gros, Senior Military Advisor to
the CSRD President, received ChargC) d'Affaires Whitaker, who was
accompanied by the Defense AttachC),Pol Officer, and Pol
Specialist.



CSRD Shares Security Concerns

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3. (C/NF) General Salou stated that the CSRD shared U.S. concerns
about the events of February 18. He indicated that the CSRD would
continue bilateral information liaison via the Directorate General
for Documentation and External Security (DGDSE). He stressed that
if the USG "shared the same concerns" as the CSRD, cooperation
would be most welcome in the areas of food aid, security
assistance, the fight against al-Qaida, and support for the regime.
General Salou outlined the CSRD's objectives, which are:
stabilizing the country's political situation; promoting
reconciliation among Nigeriens; and restoring democracy. He stated
that the CSRD President had asked him to request U.S. support to
achieve these objectives, with a high priority to addressing the
food security situation and the restoration of democracy. "We
officially request your support," he told the ChargC). Regarding
the coordination of future meetings, General Salou said that future
contact with the CSRD would not be necessary, as the civilian
government should soon begin functioning as before.



ChargC) Delivers Points, Notes Primacy of ECOWAS Mediator

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4. (C/NF) The ChargC) thanked the interlocutors for the meeting and
stated that the Embassy looks forward to the prompt restoration of
democracy in Niger. The ChargC) then presented ref A talking points
on condemning the use of military means to seize power, the
importance of the quick establishment of an inclusive transitional
government, the strengthening of democratic institutions to ensure
future transitions are peaceful and democratic, the establishment
of a timetable for elections, and the non-candidacy of CSRD members
in future elections. The ChargC) stressed the importance of ECOWAS
as playing a key role in supporting the democratic transition
through Mediator for Niger Abdulsalami Aboubakar. He highlighted

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the long-standing, amicable relations between the people of the
United States and Niger. He also inquired as to the evolving
configuration of the CSRD, and expressed hopes that the
Consultative Council now under formation would be as inclusive and
participative as possible. General Salou accepted the ChargC)'s
talking points, and responded that the a specific list of CSRD
members had not been set, stating that the CSRD did not function
based on "membership," which might marginalize certain groups, but
rather as a collegial formation in the name of the entire Nigerien
Armed Forces. "We want to avoid anything that would divide the
Nigerien people," he noted.



CSRD Understands Vigilance, Expectations of International Community

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5. (C/NF) In response, Colonel Gros said that the CSRD was pleased
with the frank and substantive discussion. He stated, "We are
aware that coups are no longer 'fashionable' (smiling),and that
Armed Forces did not have the right to interfere in political
disputes. We also know that the United States is monitoring the
situation in Niger, and that you know all that happened in this
country over the past year. ECOWAS and other international bodies
did their best, but to no avail. You know the Nigerien people's
concerns regarding this situation, and that the Armed Forces
remained 'quiet.' Unfortunately, the ECOWAS mediation failed, and
the opposition called its supporters to 'come out in force.' If
they had not acted as they did, the situation would have
degenerated into a confrontation like that in Guinea, and the Armed
Forces would have been divided. Consequently, we decided to put an
end to this and 're-set all counters to zero.' Niger had been
peaceful and democratic for nearly ten years, but its leader tried
to impose a tailor-made constitution, and the Armed Forces were
aware that such was an illegal move. We were lucky to have avoided
bloodshed. We note that the population continues its spontaneous
support (for the CSRD's action)."



CSRD Will Not Stay in Power, Nor Run for Office

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6. (C/NF) Colonel Gros went on to state that the Armed Forces would
not stay in power, and would not take sides with any political
party. He assured that the CSRD would establish a Consultative
Council comprising representatives from Niger's socio-professional
and political strata. The Consultative Council will think about
charting the nation's political future, and propose a timeframe for
the transition to organize free and fair elections to ensure
sustainable democratic governance in Niger. Colonel Gros stated
that the CSRD shared the USG's concerns, and confirmed that no
member of the CSRD would be a candidate in future elections.




7. (C/NF) When pressed by the ChargC) on specifics regarding
day-to-day operations of the government, General Salou emphasized
that government structures continued to operate from the secretary
general level on down. He noted that the CSRD would not likely
have ongoing coordination with governmental ministries,
anticipating that they would continue their functions as normal.



No Timeframe for Transition; Political Parties Held "Equidistant"

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8. (C/NF) General Salou pointed out that the CSRD did not want to
propose a timeframe for the transition, because it did not want
Nigeriens and other partners to interpret this as a "dictatorial
imposition." He also stressed that the Armed Forces had no
intention of remaining in power. He asked the ChargC) to reassure
the USG that the CSRD would respect democratic practices and added
that, "We respect the principles that govern your government." He
noted that the Armed Forces remained "equidistant" with respect to

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Niger's political parties, and pointed out that the CSRD had
appointed a consensus prime minister and would ensure the formation
of a cabinet based on competence and integrity, and not on party
affiliation, to allow the organization of free and fair elections,
for which he said the CSRD would seek USG assistance.



General Salou Addresses Food Security Situation

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9. (C/NF) Colonel Gros stated that "food insecurity knocks at our
door." He said that the CSRD recognizes this fact, unlike the
former government. Colonel Gros requested the assistance of the
USG in addressing the food security situation, and added that "we
need to eat before thinking about elections." He also said that
the USG's concerns about the food security situation were
"logical," and that the CSRD requests USG support to address it.
When told that the World Food Program (WFP) Executive Session in
Rome (ref B) had noted the food shortage in Niger and that the
Government of Niger had not issued an appeal in this regard.
Colonel Gros said that the former government was reluctant to
inform international bodies of the realities of the coming food
crisis, and said that the CSRD would draft a letter to request
international support to address the situation. Colonel Gros
mentioned that the new CSRD President's Director of Cabinet was
dual-hatted, coordinating all issues relating to food security in
addition to his staff role. He reminded that, "We are keenly aware
that if there is no food, elections may be compromised. Therefore,
we make food our first priority."



Comment:

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10. (C/NF) General Salou made several revealing remarks in a
discussion that was earnest and productive. He stated that the
Nigerien Armed Forces remained vigilant regarding the internal and
international security situation, including referencing al-Qaida
specifically. He recognized that U.S.-Niger relations had suffered
during the past year and expressed the CSRD's hopes of restoring
democracy in the near term, leading to a renewal of bilateral
cooperation. Expressing hopes that the United States would
understand the circumstances that led to the forcible seizure of
power, he clearly sought to explain the CSRD's democratic
intentions. End comment.



Biodata on BG Salou and Colonel Gros

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11. (C/NF) BG Salou has been the Chief of Staff of the Nigerien Air
Force since at least 2003. He is a graduate of the US Air Force's
Command and Staff College and is assessed by the DATT as extremely
pro-U.S. For additional details, please see ref C. Col Gros,
prior to assuming his role as the advisor to the President of the
CSRD, was the military advisor to the Nigerien Prime Minister.
Also assessed to be pro-U.S., at least one of his children was
educated in the United States and he reports to have served as the
Defense AttachC) to the U.S. for a short period in 1987.




12. (S/NF) The information provided by BG Salou and Col Gros
largely corresponds with that provided by Cols Hassan Mossi and
Abdoul Karim Goukoye in conversations that took place with the DATT
on 21 February 2010 and reported in ref D.
WHITAKER