INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Nigeria: Wade Says Let the Courts Decide On the Elections

Published: Thu 26 Apr 2007 11:02 AM
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DE RUEHDK #0922 1161102
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261102Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8172
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS DAKAR 000922
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR AF, AF/W, DRL, DRL/AE, AF/RSA, AND AF/PDPA
LONDON FOR POL - AFRICA WATCHER
PARIS FOR POL - AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM NI SG
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WADE SAYS LET THE COURTS DECIDE ON THE ELECTIONS
1. (U) On April 24, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's spokesman
El hadji Amadou Sall issued a statement on the Nigerian elections in
which he appealed for an end to election-related violence and called
on parties to use the mechanisms provided in the Nigerian
Constitution to settle disputes. The statement ended, "As for the
results, the Government of Senegal will pronounce its views after
the legal process has been exhausted."
2. (SBU) COMMENT: During President Wade's first term, his
counterparts in the region criticized him for being so outspoken on
democracy and human rights issues. For the Senegalese to issue its
current statement has become unusual and may signal a renewed
willingness to speak out on continental and world issues. We must
also keep in mind that Presidents Wade and Obasanjo have often seen
one another as diplomatic competitors even if they have successfully
acted in concert. END COMMENT.
JACOBS
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