US embassy cable - 05ABUJA2075

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002075 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, PTER, MARR, PHUM, XW, XY, NI 
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER,S MEETING WITH NIGERIAN MFA RE 
COTE-D,IVOIRE AND SUDAN 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer met 
with Nigeria's Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji on 24 October 
to discuss the Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire (CDI), and other issues. 
During the meeting, Adeniji was vague on many issues, but 
spoke generally about the need to push the Southern Sudan 
agreement and the next round of Darfur negotiations scheduled 
to begin next month.  He said that CDI was the "immediate 
problem and discussed the next steps in the reconciliation 
process.  He commented that the AU was "gearing up" to 
implement the observation of the Mauritania transition but 
said that "some issues would best be dealt with" by the 
current military regime.  He pushed Obasanjo's scheme for 
"powersharing" as the solution for Liberia, commenting that 
the two candidates in the runoff should agree to cooperate. 
At the end of the meeting, he brought up to issue of Security 
Council expansion, asking if the USG supported two permanent 
African seats with the veto.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  THE SUDAN:  Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer met 
with Nigeria's Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji on 24 October 
and opened the meeting with the situation in the Sudan. 
Adeniji said that Nigeria was pleased that a new cabinet had 
been announced but stated that the international community 
needs to "push on the southern agreement and resolve the 
Darfur crisis."  He said that the latest round of talks ended 
"near agreement" and that he "expected rapid progress" in the 
next round of talks due to commence in late November. 
Adeniji expressed Nigeria's concern about the breakup of the 
SLM, saying "when liberation movements fracture, the 
potential is there for others to manipulate the groups." 
 
3.  (C)  COTE D'IVOIRE:  Turning to Cote d'Ivoire, Adeniji 
then said that CDI is "the immediate problem."  He said that 
it was important to get "someone with real authority" as 
Prime Minister.  "Seydou Diarra had no power base and 
President Gbagbo does not give him space to maneuver," he 
said.  He commented favorably on the Security Council 
Resolution specifying roles and said that he hoped Gbagbo was 
"more realistic" on the need for a strong Prime Minister now. 
 He said that "Obasanjo, Mbeki and Tanja were hoping to go as 
soon as the resolution came out"  but did not give an 
indication whether Obasanjo still planned to travel given the 
loss of his wife. 
 
4.  (C)  He commented that Gbagbo was initially skeptical 
about the role of ECOWAS, but had been surprised by the 
"fairness" of the organization.  He said that Mali and 
Burkina Faso would be "brought in" when CDI's national 
dialogue is launched, but said that "Campaore is always 
willing to talk but never gives anything." 
 
5.  (C)  MAURITANIA:  Adeniji said that the African Union 
(AU) is "gearing up to implement its observation of 
Mauritania's promised reform process."  He said that the GOM 
seemed willing to comply and that it was now "up to the AU to 
mobilize."  Adeniji commented, however, that on human rights 
and corruption, the military regime was better able to handle 
the reforms.  "Human rights and the issue of slavery can only 
be solved by this quasi-military regime," he stated. 
Responding to the Assistant Secretary, Adeniji said that the 
regime would be pushed to put a more civilian face on its 
governing council.  He asked whether the A/S had consulted 
with Senegal's President Wade.  The A/S mentioned her meeting 
with Wade at UNGA and noted his concern that "pushing too 
hard" would create the potential for "extremists" to stage a 
counter-coup. 
 
6.  (C)  LIBERIA:  Adeniji expressed his satisfaction that 
the first round of elections had gone smoothly and said that 
we now "have to get through the runoff."  He said that Weah 
and Johnson had visited Abuja and that Obasanjo had tried to 
make them understand that "winner-take-all" does not work. 
"They both have talents to contribute," Adeniji said, "and 
they need to understand that their cooperation (with each 
other) is important." 
 
7.  (C)  UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXPANSION:  At the end of the 
meeting, Adeniji brought up the committee of African Heads of 
State (HoS) meeting on Security Council expansion.  He said 
that another meeting of the 10 Heads of State is schedule for 
Monday, October 31 to try to reach consensus on the issue. 
He said that the Foreign Ministers had been meeting and had 
prepared a report.  He pointed out that some of the Ministers 
had included a statement in the report to the HoS that the 
USG supports the consensus position that Africa will get two 
permanent seats with veto power.  Assistant Secretary stated 
that Security Council reform is part of the bigger issue of 
reform of the UN and that UNSC expansion will require further 
discussion about criteria for considering new permanent 
members.  She made clear that the USG has not taken a 
position on the AU proposal but it was clearly overly 
ambitious.  Adeniji complained that "the entire year has been 
take up with UN reforms" and that he would be happy to get 
the issue behind him. 
 
8.  (C)  COMMENT:  While Adeniji exhibited a breadth of 
knowledge, the depth of that knowledge was not apparent.  It 
was obvious that on many issues, decision-making authority is 
restricted to President Obasanjo and dependent on his time 
and availability. 
CAMPBELL