VZCZCXRO0231
PP RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN
DE RUEHUJA #1921 2061122
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251122Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6564
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0067
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001921 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
REL TO USA GBR FRA DEU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016 
TAGS: PBTS MOPS PREL NI CM
SUBJECT: NIGERIA:BAKASSI UPDATE 
 
REF: ABUJA 1841 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Thomas P. Furey for Reasons 1.4 (b and 
 d) 
 
¶1.   (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  On 24 July, Post hosted a 
meeting of the local representatives of the four witness 
states to the Greentree Accord on Bakassi, though the German 
embassy was unable to send anyone.  No representatives from 
either the UK or France have yet traveled to the Bakassi 
area.  The French concurred that there was history of abuse 
by Cameroonian gendarmes, and believed that concerns about 
the welfare of Bakassi indigenes were justified.  All agreed 
that it was important for the witness states to continue to 
make a visible show of interest in the implementation of the 
agreement. 
 
Military 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  COL Wahab, the Principal Staff 
Officer (PSO) to Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), 
informed PolMilOff on 19 July that the CDS was flying to 
Bakassi that day to witness/oversee the initial Nigerian 
military withdrawal from Bakassi. The PSO said that the 
withdrawal process would begin with "non-essential" troops, 
but he did not elaborate. 
 
¶3.  (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  The French DATT said that there 
were "strong indications" that Nigerian troops had begun to 
move out of Bakassi on 20 July, but expressed concern that 
the Nigerian Army would be unable to move their larger 
artillery pieces until after the rainy season. His 
counterpart in Yaounde confirmed that Cameroonian troops were 
reporting that Nigerian units began to withdraw from Bakassi 
on 20 July, and also that Nigerian units deployed in Bakassi 
cheered loudly enough to be heard on the Cameroonian side of 
the lines when the announcement was made that their mission 
was ending. 
 
Ceremonies 
----------------- 
 
¶4.  (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  According to the PSO to the CDS, 
a formal event for the CDS of Nigeria to "hand over 
authority" over Bakassi to the CDS of Cameroon was being 
planned for 6 or 7 August in Bakassi, to be followed two days 
later by a similar event with Presidents Obasanjo and Biya. 
The PSO would speak to the Nigerian MFA and DIA about 
ensuring invitations were extended to representatives of the 
witness states. 
 
¶5.   (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  The French DATT and PolCouns 
had also heard there would be two ceremonies, one on 5 August 
in Archibong with the Defense Chiefs and one on 10 August in 
Calabar with the two presidents.  The British DCM also had 
heard those dates.  The Nigerian Director of Military 
Intelligence, on 24 July, had a "JTF Withdrawal from Bakassi" 
event marked on his calendar for 10 August. 
 
Local Reaction 
---------------------- 
¶6.  (C/REL USA GBR FRA DEU)  Nigerian press reports continue 
to cover Bakassi, with stories increasingly focused on the 
sensational--calls for secession, death threats against 
political leaders, and last-ditch efforts to nullify the 
Greentree Accord. Some press reports and Embassy contacts 
have questioned the legality of the Greentree Accord, 
expressing a desire for the National Assembly to consider the 
agreement before it is implemented.  Bakassi's LGA chair has 
been quoted by the press delivering moderating messages, 
supporting the relocation program and downplaying 
secessionist messages. 
FUREY