US embassy cable - 01ABUJA2303

UNCLAS ABUJA 002303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF AND INL 
AF/W PLS PASS TO AMB. JETER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, NI 
SUBJECT: ECOWAS RAISING FUNDS FOR DRUG CONTROL 
 
 
This is an action cable; action request for INL and AF in 
para 6. 
 
 
1. Ambassador Jeter recently received a letter from ECOWAS 
Executive Secretary Lansana Kouyate inviting him to an 
October 13 dinner at the NICON Hilton Hotel to raise funds 
for the "ECODRUG" fund (ECOWAS Fund for Financing Drug 
Control Activities in West Africa).  THe letter, which asks 
for confirmation of attendance, states that President 
Obasanjo will be the patron of the dinner. 
 
 
2. RNLEO September 7 paid a call on head of the ECOWAS Drug 
Control Unit Mamadou Gueye at the ECOWAS Secretariat in 
Abuja.  Gueye is the director of the Human Development 
Department and manages ECOWAS programs and policies for a 
wide range of issues including drug control, women's issues, 
and trafficking in persons. 
 
 
3. Gueye explained that the start of ECOWAS' involvement in 
drug control issues was formally marked with the September 
1998 released of a Regional Plan of Action Against the Abuse 
and Illicit Traffic of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 
West Africa; 1997-2001 and the October 1998 launch of the 
ECODRUG fund by the 21st ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in 
Abuja in October 1998.  The ECODRUG Funds calls for the 
raising of USD 6.572 million for the implementation of five 
regional anti-drug projects: a) development and strengthening 
of drug enforcement legislation; b) consolidation of regional 
and national drug control measures/strategies; c) development 
and strengthening of regional and national drug control 
policies and institutions; d) drug control information, 
research and networking; and e) drug abuse prevention and 
rehabiliation action point. 
 
 
4.  Gueye noted that progress in advancing both the Plan of 
Action and the ECODRUG fund has been extremely slow; he had 
hoped to have this fund-raising dinner last year, but could 
not get the schedules of President Obsanajo and President 
Konare (Mali -- then Chairman of ECOWAS) to match.  The 
dinner will be attended by 200 guests, he estimated and, 
while funding commitments are encouraged, they are not 
expected of all guests. 
 
 
 5. Drawing attention to the NDLEA's recently announced plans 
to create a regional drug enforcement training center in Jos, 
RNLEO suggested that ECOWAS and UNDCP coordinate funding for 
this institution.  Gueye responded positively, noting that a 
similar attempt to create a regional training center in Cote 
d'Ivoire had failed due to limited support from ECOWAS and 
the traning center administrators' apparently inability to 
accommodate both Francaphone and Anglaphone participants. 
 
 
6. Comment and Action Request for INL and AF:  While the USG 
is not expected to make a formal funding pledge at the 
ECODRUG fund-raising dinner, we expect to be asked about the 
prospects for USG assistance to this nascent regional 
anti-drug effort.  We would like to offer more than moral 
support to this ECOWAS program.  Please provide guidance on 
the feasibility of USG assistance to ECOWAS for drug control. 
 Can ESF funds earmarked for regional programs be used for 
this purpose?  if not, could INL consider earmarking a modest 
amount in INC funds from the FY2002 budget? 
Andrews