Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04DJIBOUTI813, PLOTTING A FUTURE FOR THE ETHIOPIA-DJIBOUTI RAILWAY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04DJIBOUTI813.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04DJIBOUTI813 2004-06-14 11:39 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Djibouti
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000813 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ECON DJ ET
SUBJECT: PLOTTING A FUTURE FOR THE ETHIOPIA-DJIBOUTI RAILWAY 
 
1. (U) Ahmed Dualeh, Regional and Commercial Director in 
Djibouti of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, told Ambassador 
that the decision of Djibouti and Ethiopia to privatize the 
railway linking their capitals is well underway. Following a 
tender process to take place next year in 2005, the 
international private sector is expected to assume full 
control of the enterprise by 2006. Dualeh anticipates scant 
participation by local investors in the privatization scheme, 
citing a lack of capital, yet holds the view that the railway 
will be attractive to investors because it can be profitable, 
with adequate rehabilitation. An invitation for participation 
in the railway concession envisions 51 per cent of ownership 
of the railway passing to a single concession holder with 
participation of the Governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti at 
a minimum. The long-term value of the railway will be in the 
ability of Djibouti to be attractive as a transshipment point 
to other African destinations.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
Step One: End the Conflict 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (U) Ahmed Dualeh, Regional and Commercial Director in 
Djibouti of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, said the U.S., as 
superpower, must work hard to end the Eritrea-Ethiopia 
conflict as a first step in supporting privatization and 
rehabilitation of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway.  Doing so 
will minimize opportunities for disruption of the railway's 
services once privatization is achieved. Seeing a link 
between Ethiopian and Djiboutian economic development and the 
success of the railway, he is also linking sustained economic 
development with winning the global effort to confront 
terrorism.  "A hungry man," he said, "is easily influenced by 
negative forces." 
 
------------------------------------ 
Step Two:  Seek Private Investors 
------------------------------------ 
 
3. (U) At the inauguration in Djibouti on May 19 of 
Ethiopia's new multi-million dollar embassy compound, guests 
were provided a presentation from Swederail consortium 
inviting private investment in the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway 
Company. The consortium pointed out up front the railway's 
technical and physical constraints and its inadequacies in 
organization and management.  It cited these and a shortage 
of funds for parts and maintenance as causes of the railway's 
decline.  The result has been, it stated, an excessive number 
of locomotives and wagons out of commission and under repair, 
high operational costs, a weak resource base, lack of an 
improved system, and the inability of the railway to compete 
with flexible trucking.  The short-term challenge of the 
railway company, according to the consortium's presentation, 
is to find the necessary funding to catch up with the 
maintenance backlog of the railway.  The EU has approved 40 
million euros (USD 48.2 million) to finance rehabilitation of 
the line, which the consortium hopes will be a selling point 
for potential shareholders. 
 
4. (U) The deadline for submission of pre-qualification 
proposals for shares of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway 
concession was set for May 31,2004.  After May 31, 
pre-qualified parties would be invited to submit their 
technical proposals for evaluation.  Tender documents would 
be sent no later than June 30 with technical proposals 
submitted by September 17.  After that, parties with 
satisfactory technical proposals would be invited to submit 
financial proposals and the final negotiation and signing of 
a concession agreement with the winner would take place by 
June 2005.  Management of the railroad under the concession 
agreement would commence September 2005, with the major 
shareholder given at least 51 per cent of shares.  The 
participation of the Ethiopian and Djiboutian governments 
would be minimal, according to the consortium's presentation. 
Issues of personnel and redundancy are among many other 
issues that will need to be addressed as the process of 
privatization moves forward. 
 
------------------------------ 
Step Three: Regain Lost Ground 
------------------------------ 
 
5. (U) France began construction of the Ethiopia-Djibouti 
railway in 1897.  It is one of the oldest in Africa and the 
most direct link from the Red Sea to Addis Ababa.  It is a 
meter-gauged single-track line of 781 kilometers of which 681 
kilometers are in Ethiopia.  According to Dualeh, Dire Dawa 
is the central station for operation of the line, hosts its 
maintenance workshops and employs most of the railway's labor 
force.  In 1981, the French share in what ultimately became 
the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway Company, was taken over by 
Djibouti, creating a 50-50 joint commercial venture between 
Ethiopia and Djibouti.  Headquarters are located in Ethiopia 
and the Djibouti office is organized as a branch of the 
headquarters office. Management of the railway, however, is 
divided 50-50 between the two states, with  chairmanship 
rotating yearly between them. Current chair is Ethiopia, with 
Djibouti's Minister of Transport assuming the honors in 2005. 
 The railway's General Manager is Ethiopian and its Deputy 
Manager, who also resides in Addis Ababa, is Djiboutian. 
Director of Finance of the railway, according to Dualeh, is 
Ethiopian, as well as its Director of Human Resources.  Both 
are based in Addis Ababa.  The Technical Director of the 
railway is Djiboutian and he is based in Djibouti.  The 
railway's Transport and Commercial Directors are also 
Djiboutian and are based in Djibouti. 
 
6. (U)  Over the years, Dualeh said, the railway company has 
been caught up in the political and economic policies of 
Ethiopia and Djibouti and has declined in influence.  One 
hundred kilometers of track are badly in need of repair. In 
addition, the 1970s emphasis on the trade route by road from 
Assab in Eritrea to Addis Ababa exacerbated the railway's 
decline.  Commercial travel by railway to Ethiopia from 
Djibouti is currently less than 7 percent of total exports 
from Djibouti to Ethiopia, according to Dualeh.  He said the 
railway is not currently in a position, because of its poor 
condition -- including rolling stock and tracks -- to compete 
with the road, yet it could enhance Djibouti's attractiveness 
as a transshipment point to other African destinations. The 
railway currently has 14 locomotives, 442 wagons and 27 
passenger coaches.  Not all are operational at this time. 
The existing line capacity is about 6 trains per day per 
direction and carries approximately 800,000 tons of goods per 
year. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (U) Comment:  At the same time that Djibouti is supporting 
privatization of the railway, it is proceeding on other 
fronts to secure commercial investments that would enable 
Djibouti to become a vital transshipment point for other 
parts of Africa. If projects such as an oil pipeline from 
Djibouti's new port at Doraleh to Dire Dawa or Addis Ababa 
are completed, or road improvements confirm trucking as the 
preferred means of transport, the role of the railway could 
remain marginal.  The longer it takes to make the railway a 
vital alternative to other means of transport, and the longer 
the region remains unstable, the more difficult will be the 
railway's path out of marginalization. This point is sure to 
loom large with potential shareholders. End comment. 
RAGSDALE