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 09DAKAR1069, CONFLICTING MESSAGES ABOUT WADE'S MONUMENT

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. #09DAKAR1069.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09DAKAR1069 2009-08-19 13:10 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dakar
VZCZCXRO6177
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDK #1069/01 2311310
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191310Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2953
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1251
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0408
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001069 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM XY PU
SUBJECT: CONFLICTING MESSAGES ABOUT WADE'S MONUMENT 
 
REF: 08 DAKAR 696 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Details have continued to emerge regarding 
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's project for a "Monument of the 
African Renaissance."  To pay off the North Korean firm that is 
constructing the monument, a valuable tract of land is said to have 
been given to Mbackeou Faye, one of Wade's prominent supporters, 
with the instructions that Faye should pay the cost of construction 
(believed to be $25-35 million) to the North Koreans with proceeds 
from selling the newly-acquired land.  After paying off the North 
Koreans, Faye will end up with a hefty profit from the land deal. 
In response to an inquiry from the European Union (EU), Prime 
Minister Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye defended the land deal without 
really revealing any details.  However, his additional assertion 
that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) had supervised the process 
conflicts with existing information.  Additionally, Wade's recent 
decision to claim 35 percent of the monument's proceeds as an 
intellectual property right conflicts with Ndiaye's assertion that 
the land deal was done transparently and within GOS regulations. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
BACKGROUND ON THE MONUMENT 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) The execution of President Wade's idea for a "Monument of 
the African Renaissance" in Dakar is currently in the process of 
being realized.  A 100-plus North Korean crew has been constructing 
the titanic, grandiose edifice of a style reminiscent of the 
Stalinesque behemoths of the halcyon days of the Soviet Union.  As 
described by a GOS brochure, the structure features an "African man 
emerging from a volcano, facing the West, with his wife, and he is 
holding his child up as if to show him to the world."  Reportedly, 
Wade sees the monument as a cultural legacy for himself and a 
tangible symbol mirroring his belief that Africa must look to the 
future rather than be beholden to its past. 
 
 
THE MONUMENT(al) LAND DEAL 
---------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Wade appropriated a public piece of land occupying the 
western-most promontory of the Senegalese coast, just northwest of 
downtown Dakar to be used for the site of his proposed monument.  He 
hired a North Korean firm to construct the monument at a cost of CFA 
12-16 billion (approximately USD $25-35 million), according to Wade 
himself.  To cover the costs of construction, rather than pay for 
the structure from the GOS's limited budget, a valuable tract of 
land near Dakar's airport was appropriated.  Rather than sell the 
land itself, it is believed the North Koreans and/or GOS engaged the 
services of Mbackeou Faye, a prominent businessman and one of Wade's 
close friends and loyal supporters, to commercialize the real 
estate.  (COMMENT: Although the GOS asserts that the North Koreans 
chose Faye to develop and sell the property, it is all but certain 
that Wade himself chose Faye and merely told the North Koreans whom 
to hire.  END COMMENT) 
 
4. (SBU) Faye has sold 12 hectares of land thus far, to Ipres, a 
retirement and pension institution for private sector and 
nongovernment employees-civil servants, for USD $54 million.  (NOTE: 
Ipres is co-managed by the private sector and the GOS, with Wade 
nominating the company's director and the company's private board 
confirming the nomination.  END NOTE.)  With the remaining land, 
Faye is believed to be planning to build 270 luxurious residences, 
each of which will cost USD $300,000.  This is expected to bring him 
an additional USD $81 million.  After paying the North Korean firm, 
Faye is expected to end up with a handsome profit from the deal. 
(COMMENT: Although Ipres's board is technically independent, its 
members are vulnerable to political pressure from the Presidency. 
Wade can easily pull some strings at the company to push deals 
through.  It is very probable that Wade had some say in Ipres's land 
purchase.  END COMMENT.) 
 
 
THE GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO CONTRADICT ITSELF 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5. (SBU) On June 30, 2009 the EU sent a letter to the GOS 
questioning the land deal.  In the letter, the EU complained that 
the GOS gave up a valuable revenue-generating opportunity while 
continuing to ask for budget support from donors. 
 
6. (SBU) On July 9, Prime Minister Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye responded 
with a letter defending the land deal, essentially arguing that the 
GOS had done nothing wrong, did not "sell" the land, and did not 
receive any money.  The letter also argues that the North Koreans, 
not the GOS, chose Faye to develop the land.  Furthermore, the 
 
DAKAR 00001069  002 OF 002 
 
 
letter asserts that the MOF was involved in all aspects of the land 
deal.  This is in direct contradiction to what Abdoulaye Diop, the 
Minister of Finance, asserted during the presentation of the revised 
2009 budget at the National Assembly.  Essentially, the Minister 
stated that the MOF was not involved in the monument land deal. 
(NOTE: According to a source in the MOF, the President handled the 
land deal himself without consulting the ministry, and that the 
Presidency, not the MOF, controls all public land in the airport and 
upscale Almadies neighborhoods.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
FURTHER CONTRADICTIONS 
---------------------- 
7. (SBU) President Wade recently claimed that since the monument was 
his own personal idea he has a right to share in the proceeds, 
claiming intellectual property rights over the statue.  Wade has 
subsequently created a foundation and claimed that 35 percent of the 
monument's proceeds will go as royalties to the foundation. 
Additionally, Wade has named his son, Karim Wade, as the president 
of the foundation's board of directors.  The money that goes to the 
foundation will ostensibly be used to fund another of Wade's pet 
projects, the "Cases de Tout Petits".  These "cases" are early 
childhood education centers, of which over 100 have been built 
throughout the country since 2000.  Although these "cases" are a 
good idea in theory, early childhood education is a luxury in a 
country where even universal primary education is unattainable. 
Most of the existing centers sit as empty shells, either locked or 
diverted to multiple other uses. 
 
MORE TO COME? 
------------- 
8. (SBU) In his letter, Ndiaye mentioned that a second land deal is 
likely in the works.   He claimed that this deal will cover the 
costs of landscaping the monument grounds, the construction of a 
proposed museum and conference center inside the edifice, and the 
construction of parking lots and an amusement park. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
9. (SBU) The monument, the outer shell of which is missing only the 
man's head, is now a prominent feature of greater Dakar's skyline 
clearly visible from most of the outer rim of the city.  As it sits 
close enough to the flight path of planes landing at Dakar's 
international airport, it is ensured of becoming a topic of 
conversation for foreign visitors and those passing through.  The 
Senegalese man and woman on the street are also talking, most 
expressing the simple plaint that, if given the choice, they would 
have preferred electricity and running water.  END COMMENT. 
 
BERNICAT