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DE RUEHFN #0379/01 1350745
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111944Z MAY 06 CCY ADCC1FE5 MSI4824 612
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9775
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0139
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000379 
 
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C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y ( ADDING SIPDIS CAPTION ) 
 
 
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DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO AND AF/W 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2011 
TAGS: PREL USUN KDEM SL
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT STOPS COOPERATION WITH UN MISSION OVER 
UN MISSION QUARTERLY REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES A. STEWART FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D. 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1. (C)  President Kabbah and his Government did not like the 
criticisms in the recent UN Secretary General's quarterly 
report to the Security Council on the UNIOSIL mission and 
reacted by discontinuing cooperation with the UN mission. 
The international community supports UNIOSIL and the 
Executive Representative of the Secretary General (ERSG) 
Victor Angelo.  The UK is leading the appeal for calm. 
Secretary General Annan's May 10 letter to Kabbah underscored 
 
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that Security Council members agreed with the report's 
assessment.  He cited the progress made, but also cited major 
challenges that remain.  Annan appealed to Kabbah not to 
proceed with the restrictions envisioned by the Government. 
Annan is to call Kabbah late May 11.  We understand that he 
will delicately try to walk Kabbah back from his hard-line 
position.  Progress in Sierra Leone depends largely on a 
successful UN mission and the ERSG is a strong leader who we 
and the international community strongly support.  Rather 
than shooting the messenger, Kabbah and his people should 
concentrate on the positive and long run progress, and on 
being seen by the international community and by the Sierra 
Leonean electorate not as thin-skinned but as working for 
broad improvement.  ERSG Angelo must be deft in finding ways 
to depressurize the situation.  The UK is taking the lead in 
helping do that and we and the other mission need to find 
ways to help.  End Summary. 
 
GOSL Displeased with UN Report ... 
---------------------------------- 
¶2. (C) President Kabbah and his Government have taken umbrage 
at the UN Secretary General's first report to the Security 
Council on the operations of the UNIOSIL.  UNIOSIL staff 
drafted the report but UN New York staff adjusted it, 
according to UNIOSIL chief, Executive Representative of the 
Secretary General (ERSG) Victor Angelo. 
 
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... and Discontinues Cooperation with UN Mission 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
¶3. (C) On May 5, the Government delivered a Note Verbale to 
UNIOSIL saying that it would discontinue cooperation with 
UNIOSIL until the report is withdrawn.  The Note Verbale is 
unavailable, but we understand from Angelo that the 
particular point the Government did not like was language to 
the effect that some people think the Government is 
manipulating the judicial system to its own ends, citing the 
cases of Charles Margai, who started a new political party 
that has broken away from Kabbah,s ruling SLPP, and the 
treason case of Omrie Golley. 
 
International Community Supports UN 
----------------------------------- 
¶4. (C) The UK High Commission informed Charge of this 
difficulty and while in the past they have had some 
differences with the ERSG and UN agencies, they completely 
support the UNIOSIL mission and the ERSG.  Early on May 10, 
as he explained, the UK Charge called the Minister for 
Presidential Affairs to try to keep the Government's focus on 
long term improvements, appeal for calm, and diplomatically 
to de-escalate the situation so that the Government does not 
continue to overreact and find itself painted into a corner. 
He appealed for us to deliver a similar message calling for 
calm to ministers, as the occasion arises. 
 
¶5. (C) Late on May 20, ERSG Angelo called Charge to share his 
similar concerns on the Government's overreaction.  He said 
that while there is progress in Sierra Leone, the UN 
quarterly report cited a number of areas where progress is 
still needed.  The language, he said, was made much sharper 
in NY than the more rounded terms UNIOSIL used. 
 
UN Secretary General Letter to Kabbah ... 
----------------------------------------- 
¶6. (C) UNIOSIL forwarded to the Embassy a copy of the letter 
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent to President Kabbah, 
dated May 10.  It underscored that Security Council members 
agreed with the assessments in the report.  It also cites the 
progress made and lists the areas of "major challenges." 
Some of the listed points are governance, the judicial 
system, human rights, employment, and the fight against 
corruption.  The Security Council agreed with the report's 
assessment, welcomed progress made, and acknowledged the need 
for the Government to continue to work closely with UNIOSIL 
and other partners.  In his letter, the SyG reassured Kabbah 
of the UN's commitment to cooperating with the Government and 
appealed to Kabbah not to proceed with the restrictions 
envisaged in the Note Verbale. 
 
... And Annan to Call Kabbah May 11 
----------------------------------- 
¶7. (C) Late on May 11, the UK Charge related that per the UK 
NY Mission, SyG Annan would be calling Kabbah late in the 
afternoon from Vienna.  The UK view is that the call is 
necessary and must be conducted most diplomatically to smooth 
Sierra Leonean ruffled feathers and easy the situation back 
to normal.  The UK Charge promised confirmation when the call 
takes place. 
 
Comment 
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¶8. (C) The UNIOSIL mission is essential to building security 
and stability and putting the country on a footing for 
greater democracy and prosperity.  The international 
community agrees on that and many Sierra Leoneans see that, 
as well.  The danger in this is that Pres. Kabbah and his 
Government might keep their hackles up and for reasons of 
misplaced pride, go so far as to demand the resignation of 
ERSG Victor Angelo.  Many Sierra Leonean leaders frequently 
shout down criticism (like the UN report) of the Government 
because, they say, it makes the country look bad to donors 
and foreign investors, and that especially is not good, they 
say, with elections coming up in 2007.  The alternative is to 
accept fair criticism and be seen to do so as a responsible 
nation builder, and present that to the voters come 2007.  We 
and our contacts in the international community hold Angelo 
in high professional and personal regard.  He has a clear 
view of the big picture and the long run, and is both 
forthright and diplomatic.  He speaks with a clear voice and 
is often in the press with a commentary or critique; perhaps 
too frequently in the view of government officials.  The UN 
would be unlikely to be able to find a replacement as 
qualified and energetic anytime soon.   There is the danger 
that raising the profile of this GOSL-UN difference of 
opinion could have the effect of making the Government more 
rigid in its position.  The better course is to work to show 
the Sierra Leonean leadership a way to climb down from its 
rigid stance.  ERSG Angelo must be sure-footed in helping 
that happen and even as the UK continues to play a lead role 
locally and reportedly at UN NY, it is also incumbent on us 
and other missions to support the effort.  End Comment. 
STEWART