US embassy cable - 01ABUJA3207

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF, AF/W, AF/RA 
EUCOM FOR DCINC AND POLAD LADESMA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2011 
TAGS: PREL, NI, ECOWAS, UN 
SUBJECT: ECOWAS: KOUYATE'S FUTURE 
 
 
REF: USUN 3004 
 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.5 (b) 
and (d). 
 
 
1. This is an action request.  Please see para 5. 
 
 
2. (C) During a December 7 meeting (septel), ECOWAS Executive 
Secretary Kouyate told Ambassador Jeter that he would not 
 
SIPDIS 
seek a one-year extension as Executive Secretary.  Kouyate 
thought it was time to go and did not want to stand in the 
way of other candidates, even though President Wade, the next 
heir apparent of ECOWAS, had expressed hope that Kouyate 
would stay. 
 
 
3. (C) Kouyate said that The Gambia and Ghana had candidates, 
and that tiny Benin had several, including the Minister of 
Finance and Foreign Minister.  Agreeing that it was 
absolutely essential that an able person replace him, Kouyate 
clearly indicated a preference by describing the Ghanaian 
candidate Mohammed Chambas as a "skilled diplomat." 
 
 
4. (C) Discussing his own future, Kouyate said he had spoken 
to Kofi Annan about a UN position.  He asked that the United 
States put in a good word for him with the UN Secretary 
General. 
 
 
5. (C) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: After reading reftel, we 
could think of no one better suited for the position of UN 
Special Representative for West Africa.  The well-respected 
Kouyate knows both the UN system and West Africa.  He is 
highly regarded by sub-regional leaders, and consistently 
demonstrates a willingness to work with the U.S.  We also 
note that the Special Representative office will be based in 
Dakar, likely to be the home of the next ECOWAS Chairman. 
Kouyate's presence in Dakar in a UN capacity could enhance 
coordination between the UN and ECOWAS, which, on balance, 
would benefit USG interests in West Africa.  END COMMENT AND 
ACTION REQUEST. 
Jeter