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 08DAKAR151, CASAMANCE OF SENEGAL: A STALLED PEACE PROCESS

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. #08DAKAR151.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08DAKAR151 2008-02-07 11:31 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dakar
VZCZCXRO1671
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #0151/01 0381131
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071131Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9987
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1100
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0338
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0822
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000151 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL AND INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER KDEM SG
SUBJECT: CASAMANCE OF SENEGAL: A STALLED PEACE PROCESS 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: A permanent peace in the Casamance remains 
elusive since the fragmentation of the MFDC (Movement of Democratic 
Forces of Casamance) following the death of its founder Father 
Diamacoune Senghor and the resulting in-fighting amongst the group's 
military wing, Atika.  President Abdoulaye Wade's undeclared 
strategy of maintaining the status quo in the hope that the 
rebellion will die a natural death has lead to an absence of 
significant dialogue between the GOS and the MFDC.  Marijuana 
growing and highway robberies, and other illicit acitivies provide 
enough financial incentives for rebels to continue to stay in the 
MFDC. End summary. 
 
No Political Representation 
--------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) The MFDC's loose political structure did not survive the 
death of Father Diamacoune Senghor, leaving the government without 
an interlocutor that could speak for the whole of the MFDC.  Those 
that now claim to speak for the group have little support and 
include Abdoulaye Diedhiou, who is in jail in the Gambia, and 
Nkrumah Sane, a hardliner who lives in exile in Paris.  Ansoumana 
Badji, a former secretary general of the MFDC who maintains ties 
with President Wade's office while shuttling between Lisbon, Paris, 
Dakar and the Casamance, told the Embassy that Wade "believes that 
the conflict is over and is no longer listening."  In his view, Wade 
thinks that sooner or later the MFDC will capitulate.  This view 
seems to be corroborated by the fact that the Foundiougne 
negotiations to resolve the conflict have been abandoned and that 
the GOS no longer has a Casamance mediator. 
 
3. (SBU) Jean-Marie Biagui, the current but not widely supported 
Secretary General of the MFDC told the Embassy he was disappointed 
 
SIPDIS 
with Wade's refusal to appoint two MFDC members to Senegal's Senate. 
 Biagui argued that this would have given a voice to the MFDC within 
the country and paved the way for an integration of MFDC members 
within institutions after a negotiated settlement.  Biagui, who is 
for decentralized rule in the Casamance, told the Embassy that Wade 
had initially accepted his proposition but reversed course when 
Presidential adviser, Pierre Atepa Goudiaby, a Casamance native, 
warned that this would cause serious divisions and tension within 
the Joola population, the leading ethnic group in the separatist 
movement. 
 
Fragmented Armed Groups and Interference 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Though fragmented, Atika has armed men in areas bordering 
both the Gambia and Guinea Bissau.  Atika's leading commander Salif 
Sadio enjoys the protection of Gambian President Jammeh who gave him 
a safe haven following several attacks by a mix of Senegalese and 
Bissau Guinean soldiers and fighters from two rival branches within 
Atika led by Magne Dieme and Cesar Atoute Badiate.  Dieme is the 
architect of a strategy, supported by Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, to 
kill Sadio and build a unified command with Badiate to restart talks 
with the GOS.  However, there are unconfirmed reports that Dieme 
died while being interrogated by Gambian police who were trying to 
ascertain whether nor not his group supported former Gambian chief 
of staff Colonel Cham's coup attempt.  For its part, the GOS remains 
quiet while Jammeh, who benefits from this conflict and who needs 
Joola support to stay in power, detains its MFDC "allies" as they 
believe that a decapitated and fragmented MFDC is more malleable 
than a unified one. 
 
Yet the Mood is Upbeat in the Casamance 
--------------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) While talk of conflict and armed robberies continue, the 
mood amongst the people of the Casamance remains cautiously upbeat. 
During a recent trip to the region Poloff discussed the situation in 
the region with several NGOs and local activists and they were all 
unified in their belief that peace has never been closer.  When 
asked why, they all emphasized that people have had enough of the 
conflict.  Moroever, they contended that as older rebel leaders have 
died no younger ones have emerged with the ability to hold the 
rebellion together.  Meanwhile, local NGOs, several with USG funds, 
are focusing their programs on conflict resolution, inter-communal 
dialogue, methods to achieve peace and young people. 
 
6.  (SBU) World Education, an American NGO working to improve the 
lives of the poor through economic and social development, has 
funded the creation of six community radios.  For the first time, a 
medium now exists to give the various players in the conflict a 
means to express themselves and allow others to know what they 
think, the MFDC included.  World Education Director Abdou Sarr told 
Poloff that this program has been so successful that they are being 
inundated with requests for assistance to help set up more community 
 
DAKAR 00000151  002 OF 002 
 
 
stations.  The stations have programs in all of Senegal's main 
languages as well as in local dialects.  World Education monitors 
the programming to make sure that the focus remains on the peace 
process.  He went on to say that they plan to increase the number of 
radio stations to 12 because they believe that the fundamental 
barrier to peace is a lack of communication between the many actors 
in this complex struggle. 
 
7. (SBU) Ibrahim Ba, the director of CONGAD, a national umbrella 
organization for the many NGOs in Senegal, echoed a similar view, 
saying the MFDC is losing popular support and that there has been a 
clear reduction in the intensity of the conflict.  However, he 
warned that some parties, mainly those involved in illegal logging 
and drug trafficking, had much to gain from keeping this conflict 
alive.  He also lamented a lack of engagement from Dakar saying: 
"everybody in the region knows exactly what needs to be done to 
resolve conflict but all Dakar does is come here and bribe some 
people and leave."  Still Ba remains upbeat:  "In the past the 
conflict had widespread local support but nowadays that is no longer 
the case." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  (SBU) Although there seems to be widespread local support for an 
end to the conflict, prospects for a definitive negotiated peace 
settlement remain elusive, especially since the GOS seems to be 
favoring a policy to allow the MFDC to either simply wither on vine 
or to self-destruct by encouraging internal fighting within Atika 
and by bribing its political leaders.  Thus, while the MFDC has been 
weakened, the frustrations that caused the rebellion in the first 
place are still there.  Life in the Casamance is a juxtaposition of 
extreme poverty and insecurity for its inhabitants with abundant 
natural resources that have the potential to change the face of the 
region.  Nowadays, the conflict has morphed from a fight for 
independence for the region into lucrative sources of income for 
rebels who have branched into marijuana growing, highway robbery, 
and illegal logging (the military is also alleged to be involved in 
illegal logging).  Reportedly, the MFDC has gone so far as to gain 
control of orchards by mining the areas around them.  This situation 
is likely to continue, given the GOS's lack of political will to 
resolve the conflict and the government's preoccupation with Wade's 
succession. 
 
9.  (SBU) There is, however, a significant risk that President Wade 
could lose the strategic gamble he is making.  The Casamance region 
borders the fragile, quasi-narco state of Guinea-Bissau.  While we 
have no reason to believe at this time that the MFDC is implicated 
in trafficking of South American cocaine from Guinea-Bissau, the 
danger is clear.  The GOS barely controls the Casamance region and 
Senegal's borders are porous. 
SMITH