US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1240

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001240 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, MOPS, SU, AU, CM, NI, DARFUR 
SUBJECT: DARFUR DEPLOYMENT PLANS; SEPT 15 BAKASSI 
WITHDRAWAL NOT SET IN STONE 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 1231 
 
     B. ABUJA 1218 
     C. ABUJA 1170 
     D. ABUJA 1169 
     E. ABUJA 914 
     F. ABUJA 92 
 
Classified By: DCM RICK ROBERTS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: Media reports from July 11 and 12 indicate 
that during a July 10 meeting with Cross Rivers state 
Governor Donald Duke, Minister of Defense Rabiu Kwankwaso 
said the Nigerian military had begun a gradual withdrawal 
from the Bakassi and planned to hand over disputed territory 
to Cameroon by September 15.  Further media reporting has 
indicated that units currently based in the Bakassi would 
soon be deployed to Darfur.  These reports conflict with 
previous Mission reporting and we have not been able to 
verify their accuracy.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) During a July 10 meeting with Cross Rivers Governor 
Donald Duke, Minister of Defense Rabiu Kwankwaso told members 
of the media that the Nigerian military had begun a gradual 
withdrawal from the Bakassi and the GON planned to hand over 
disputed territory to Cameroon by September 15.  Previous 
Mission reporting (REF C-F) has indicated that this is 
unlikely.  In May, the Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDI) 
(REF E) told DATT that withdrawing the military from the 
Bakassi would destabilize the region and that the GON was 
committed to achieving a political solution through the 
Nigeria-Cameroon Mixed Commission even if that conflicted 
with the ICJ's October 2002 ruling on the dispute.  The CDI's 
comments have been reaffirmed by other senior military 
interlocutors earlier this month (REF C). 
 
3.  (C) As reported previously (REF A-B), the GON plans to 
send a 165-man protection force to Darfur, however, it has 
not yet identified a unit to participate in a larger AU 
peacekeeping force.  Previous reporting (REF D) also 
indicates that it is unlikely any units from the Bakassi 
would be deployed to Sudan. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT: Despite Kwankwaso's comments to the media, 
all indications are that the GON will not comply with the 
September 15 handover date and the Nigerian military plans to 
stay in the Bakassi for the forseeable future.  END COMMENT 
CAMPBELL