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OO RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHAN #0570/01 1511342
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311342Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2887
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0657
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0041
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 0034
RUEHPL/AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS 0197
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA CAMP LEMONIER
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J2X/J4/J5//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANTANANARIVO 000570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
DEPT FOR AF/E 
DEPT PASS USAID FOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNSELOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM OVIP ECON CN
SUBJECT:  U.S. MEETS COMOROS' NEW LEADERSHIP 
 
REF:  A) ANTANANARIVO 519; 
      b) ANTANANARIVO 473 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  (U)  This cable is the second of a three-part cable. 
The first describes the inauguration of President Sambi, 
attended by the U.S. Presidential Delegation.  This cable 
describes the Delegation's meetings with and assessment of 
the new government.  The third cable provides suggestions 
for U.S. policy toward the new government of the Union of 
the Comoros. 
 
¶2.  (U)  SUMMARY.  A U.S. Presidential Delegation attended 
the May 26 inauguration of Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi as 
President of the Union of the Comoros.  Following the 
inauguration Sambi and some of his top advisors met with the 
U.S. officials and conveyed their desire for friendly 
relations with the United States as well as a willingness to 
continue cooperating in the war on terror.  They listened 
carefully to suggestions for launching their new government 
and requested assistance in doing so.  The new government 
has only six ministers, a remarkable slimming down from the 
previous government's fourteen.  Significantly, given the 
President's reputation as a conservative Muslim, one of the 
six ministers is a woman.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (U)  The week after his decisive electoral victory 
(reftels), Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was officially 
inaugurated as Comoran President in a festive ceremony May 
26 (septel).  The peaceful and democratic transfer of power 
from former President Azali to President Sambi was the first 
in Comoros' 31-year history.  A Presidential Delegation led 
by USAID Deputy Director Frederick W. Schieck, including 
USAID Counselor Mosina Jordan and Ambassador James D. McGee, 
attended the inauguration and associated events.  The U.S. 
presence was enhanced by the attendance of Rear Admiral 
Richard W. Hunt, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force 
- Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and his staff, and EmbOffs. 
 
President Sambi Receives Presidential Delegation 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. (SBU)  An energetic and warm President Sambi spent a full 
hour with Delegation Head Schieck and Counselor Jordan May 
¶27.  Sambi clearly appreciated the significance of the 
Delegation's presence and gratefully accepted the gift from 
the White House, noting it was "historic" as the first gift 
he had received from a President.  He reiterated his desire 
for continued friendship with the United States, asking for 
help to prove democracy and independence in Comoros will 
lead to prosperity. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  In response to Schieck's request for continued 
support in the fight against terrorism, President Sambi 
stated firmly, "I am on your side."  Sambi added that 
poverty is the enemy, even with the moderate and peaceful 
Comorans because, "sometimes desperate people can be 
convinced to do things."  He requested development 
assistance so he could alleviate his peoples' suffering and 
eliminate the potential for such tragic consequences. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Sambi further elaborated that, as a theologian who 
had spent time many years ago in Sudan, Iran, and Saudi 
Arabia, he understood the danger of radical ideology.  He 
stated he would never allow schools teaching hate or 
intolerance to operate in the Comoros. 
 
Hungry For Advice: Senior Advisor at Dinner 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU)  President Sambi sent his advisor, Ombad Morhan, to 
join the Delegation for dinner May 27 to explore in more 
detail the new government's program.  Morhan emphasized near- 
term challenges, like organizing national exams in June. 
This is a problem because unpaid teachers in Grand Comore 
are still on strike, and the new government is anxious to 
avoid yet another lost school year.  He added that the 
government would audit government accounts and assess 
 
ANTANANARI 00000570  002 OF 003 
 
 
egregious cases of corruption in the coming two weeks. 
Judicial reform would begin with transparency, by holding 
former officials accountable, and by taking on graft of 
magistrates.  He acknowledged that Sambi's somewhat 
aggressive plan will require substantial and immediate 
technical support to succeed. 
 
¶8. (SBU)  After outlining a few top priorities and 
challenges, Morhan switched to listening mode, feverishly 
taking notes for 90 minutes while Schieck and Jordan offered 
advice on engaging donors, establishing credibility, and 
getting the government running.  An exhausted and visibly 
exhilarated Morhan took careful note of advice that the new 
government should engage the World Bank, request an audit, 
follow up on the December Port Louis donor's conference with 
co-hosts Mauritius and South Africa, and above all create a 
credible work plan with concrete activities that partner 
nations can support. 
 
¶9. (SBU)  Sambi was chosen as a national candidate through 
the primary in Anjouan, in a constitutional system designed 
to rotate the Presidency among the three islands of the 
Comoros.  Nonetheless, Morhan confirmed that Sambi's 
government would reside permanently in Moroni, the Union 
capital on the island of Grand Comore.  Morhan added that 
Sambi's wife would remain with their children in Anjouan 
where she had been running the family businesses since her 
husband announced his candidacy. 
 
Pull-Aside with CJTF-HOA Admiral Hunt 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU)  Eager to meet the U.S. delegation, President 
Sambi separately set time for a pull-aside with Rear Admiral 
Hunt late the evening of May 26.  Sambi confirmed his 
willingness for continued cooperation with the United States 
on security, and took particular interest in the upcoming 
international maritime conference to be held in Antananarivo 
in July.  The President also welcomed Admiral Hunt's offer 
for a team to come to the Comoros to repair schools or 
clinics on a humanitarian mission. 
 
Sambi Names Cabinet of Six; Including a Woman 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U)  Wasting no time following the inauguration, 
President Sambi announced his cabinet May 29.  In contrast 
to the 14 ministers and 40 advisors that former President 
Azali had on his payroll, Sambi named just six of each, with 
his Chief of Staff and two Vice-Presidents - one from each 
of the "non-presidential" islands -- also taking on 
ministerial assignments.  Significantly, given the pre- 
election claims by his opponents that Sambi would prove an 
Islamic "extremist," one of the six ministers in his Cabinet 
is a woman. 
 
¶12. (U)  The Ministers are as follows: 
 
-- Idi Nadhoim, Sambi's Vice President from Grand Comore, 
will also be Minister of Transportation, Posts and 
Communications, Telecommunications, and Tourism; 
--  Ikililou Dhoinine, Sambi's Vice-President from Moheli, 
will have the Health portfolio as well as Solidarity and 
Gender Empowerment; 
--  Mohamed Abdoulwahabi, Sambi's Chief of Staff and 
reportedly a close confidant, will have the Defense 
portfolio; 
--  Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar, Foreign Minister and Minister of 
Cooperation, who will also have charge of the Comoran 
diaspora; 
--  Hassan Hamadi who will have the portfolios of Finance, 
Budget, the Economy, Planning, and Labor (employment 
generation); 
--  M'Madi Ali, in charge of Public Administration, 
Administrative Reforms and Prisons; 
--  Nailane Mhadji, has Energy, Land Management, 
Urbanization and Housing; 
 
ANTANANARI 00000570  003 OF 003 
 
 
--  Abdourahim Said Bacar, who will also serve as Government 
Spokesman, has Education, Research, Youth and Sports, Arts 
and Culture; 
--  Siti Kassim, the lone woman in the Cabinet, will be 
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, Handicrafts, 
and the Environment. 
 
¶13.  (SBU)  COMMENT.  It is far too early to draw definite 
conclusions about the Sambi Administration, however the 
early signs are positive.  He is seeking to fulfill his 
promise of a leaner and clear regime and we have been told 
that his selections have a reputation for competence and 
professionalism.  We have heard also that he has cut in half 
the President's salary in a move that may not be so 
difficult for a relatively wealthy businessman, but that 
will certainly enhance his popularity.  Most importantly, in 
his meetings he sent a clear signal of his desire for good 
relations with - and assistance from - the United States. 
END COMMENT. 
 
¶14. (U)  Deputy Administrator Schieck and Counselor Jordan 
cleared on the general substance of this message before 
their departure from Comoros. 
 
MCGEE