US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI106

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E AND EUR 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER CHARLES NEARY 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER RICK BELL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, MARR, SCUL, FR, DJ 
SUBJECT: FRANCE'S AMBASSADOR TO DJIBOUTI GRAPPLES WITH 
BORREL AFFAIR 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 68 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (U) France's Ambassador to Djibouti, Philippe Selz, went 
on Djiboutian television (RTD) evening of January 30 to read 
in its entirety a January 29 declaration of the Spokesperson 
of France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the Borrel 
affair and France's relations with Djibouti.  The statement, 
as delivered, noted inter alia France's regret of the 
decision taken by Djiboutian authorities to "end the mission 
of six French technical assistants," and the intention of 
France to maintain its partnership with Djibouti.  The full 
text of the French Foreign Ministry statement was also 
conveyed by Selz to the local newspaper La Nation. 
 
2. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador Ragsdale on January 31 at 
the French Embassy, Selz expressed his concern that the 
Djiboutian authorities had deliberately "cut" from his 
televised broadcast the first six words of the ministerial 
statement which states that "France takes note with regret" 
the decision of the Djiboutian authorities to end the mission 
of six French technical assistants.  He acknowledged that the 
full text later appeared in La Nation, but said its impact 
had been lost with the cut. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador asked Selz about persistent rumors that a 
public demonstration against France's presence in Djibouti 
had been planned and later postponed by the government of 
Djibouti.  She also inquired about another report that 
Djibouti's government had asked that all French military 
personnel in country be confined to base.  Selz responded 
that a demonstration had indeed been set for January 28 -- a 
demonstration he said had been called by President Guelleh, 
"not by the government of Djibouti in general," to take place 
in front of the Chancery and at Base Aerienne.  Having 
learned of the demonstrations, Selz said he had telephoned 
the Chief of Protocol to emphasize the requirement that 
Djiboutian authorities protect the French mission.  At the 
same time, Selz said, he and the Commander of French Forces 
in Djibouti, General Michel Arrault, decided that it would be 
best to confine French Forces to base during the period of 
the demonstration to prevent provocation of demonstrators and 
also to be in a position to protect the military base if 
required.  Selz had also asked the Chief of Protocol to 
facilitate removal of anti-French graffiti that had been 
placed on the perimeter wall of the French Chancery compound. 
 Following his phone call, according to Selz, the Chief of 
Protocol spoke with Guelleh and the demonstration was 
officially called off and the graffiti removed. 
 
4. (C) Selz told Ambassador that the value of Djibouti to 
France rests more deeply with the French military than with 
any other sector.  France does not have economic ties to 
Djibouti that would make a rift in the relationship untenable 
to other sectors.  (Comment:  Djibouti has the largest 
concentration of French military personnel in the world 
outside of France and remains a key training ground for 
French forces.  End comment) 
 
5. (C) Selz described the latest row with Djibouti as the 
fourth since his arrival last February.  All rows have been 
connected to the on-going Borrel affair (see reftel).  What 
is different about the latest row, he said, is the decision 
by Djibouti to expel key cooperation personnel.  Selz told 
Ambassador that he believes the expulsions and the attendant 
support for the president's actions in some quarters of 
Djibouti are related to current politics and the desire of 
some to curry favor with Guelleh as we move into presidential 
elections.  He also noted that Djibouti seems bent on using 
the leverage of its "alternative" relationship with the 
United States as a way to put pressure on France in the 
Borrel case -- a purely justice matter over which the 
government of France has no control.  Ambassador reiterated 
the continuing value the U.S. sees in France and the U.S. 
working together in Djibouti. 
 
6. (C) Comment:  Although Selz tries hard to portray his 
country's recent difficulties as "business as usual" with 
Djibouti, he is deeply concerned and is facing pressure from 
Paris.  French prestige is on the line, given difficulties it 
is now facing in Cote d'Ivoire.  Yet he is also concerned 
that the hoopla over the unresolved Borrel case (called here 
"la tenebreuse affaire") is being used by Djibouti as a 
mechanism to ease out of its long-term relationship with 
France in favor of the U.S.  France currently has a ten-year 
base access and defense agreement with Djibouti, which began 
in 2003, and whose terms obligate France to pay 30 million 
Euros per year (approximately USD 39 million) in much-needed 
cash and support.  End comment. 
RAGSDALE