VZCZCXRO5615
PP RUEHMA
DE RUEHYD #0511 1500751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290751Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8896
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1395
RUEHMA/AMEMBASSY MALABO 0299
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0099
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1738
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2062
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0061
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0695
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 1613
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0463
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0401
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0223
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000511
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CM MARR MOPS NI PREL PTBS
SUBJECT: UNSYG REP CONCERNED ABOUT BAKASSI HANDOVER
1. (SBU) Summary. Ambassador Said Djinnit, the UN Secretary
General's Special Representative to the Cameroon-Nigeria
Mixed Commission on the Bakassi border issue, expressed
concern over security and other matters in connection with
the upcoming (August 14) transfer of authority in the zone
currently under Nigerian administration. He stressed the
need for quick action on economic assistance for the
inhabitants of the peninsula to prevent social unrest.
Djinnit offered his assessment in a May 27 meeting in Yaounde
with Greentree Agreement observer states US, UK, France and
Germany; no Government of Cameroon officials were present.
Representatives of observer states will be invited to the
August 14 event if security concerns can be managed. End
summary.
2. (SBU) Djinnit said he was focused on building on the work
of his predecessor in implementing the provisions of the
Greentree accord as a demonstration of how disputes can be
settled through dialogue rather than force. He reported that
Nigerian government authorities up to and including the Vice
President told him repeatedly during a recent visit to Abuja
that the Government of Nigeria would "honor its obligations
and abide by the rule of law." But he said he was "worried
about criminal networks" and "agitation" from local residents
opposed to the Greentree accord.
3. (SBU) Djinnit said the GON's policy was to offer
resettlement to its nationals living in the administrative
zone, "but nothing in the meantime to help the people." He
said Cameroon PM Ephraim Inoni told him on May 26 that the
GRC was planning to provide assistance to the Nigerian
inhabitants in the zone as soon as it reverted to full
Cameroonian sovereignty. But he appealed for a "rapid
reaction program" from the observer states to ensure that the
transfer went smoothly.
4. (SBU) Accompanying Djinnit were two political advisors and
a senior military advisor, all based with Djinnit at the UN
Office for West Africa in Dakar. One advisor noted that some
land border demarcation issues remained, including several
potential "hot spots." The military advisor added that there
would be two more military observer missions in the zone
prior to the August 14 handover date.
5. (SBU) At a dinner May 27 hosted by Vice Prime
Minister/Minister of Justice Amadou Ali and attended by
several ministers and representatives of the presidency,
Djinnit noted the warm welcome of the Cameroon government and
hailed the Greentree Agreement as an example of successful
conflict/border resolution for the rest of Africa, which he
noted had hundreds of other territorial disputes. He praised
the GRC and GON for their courageous decisions in resolving
the Bakassi issue and respecting the rule of law, adding that
settling border disputes involves "not only territory but
also intellectual and cultural borders."
6. (SBU) Comment. Djinnit made no mention at the dinner of
his concerns about security in connection with the upcoming
transfer of authority and the need for quick action on the
economic front; he spoke more freely in his earlier, private
meeting with observer state representatives. Commenting on a
a song performed during the evening about a child at war,
Djinnit added that he planned to spend considerable time in
his new capacity combating the use of child soldiers in
Africa.
GARVEY