VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #1074/01 2651601
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221601Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2924
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUFGCIN/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 001074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
STATE FOR AF/W B. BACHMAN - PLEASE PASS TO USAID AND PEACE 
CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2016 
TAGS: PREL SOCI MARR EAID ASEC NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: REQUESTS FROM ALL CORNERS FOR MORE U.S. 
ENGAGEMENT 
 
 
(C) 1. Summary.  Dialogue with Government of Niger (GON) 
officials (President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers), 
magistrates/judges, high commissioners, military 
commanders/police, both First Ladies, regional leaders, 
parliamentarians, journalists, educators, women and youth, 
suggests that more U.S. engagement would be welcome in Niger 
in most every domain.  Embassy contacts are taking note of 
the country team effort to visit all regions and are 
expressing great appreciation for our outreach activities, 
especially given the infrastructure challenges (i.e., 
deteriorating roads, lack of true rest stops in-between major 
cities and extremely modest accomodations) in this vast 
country.  Across the land, there have been constant refrains 
for a return to the "good ole days" when U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID) had a mission here, as well 
as requests for more cultural and professional exchanges, 
American corners, expert speakers, youth activities, women's 
empowerment programs and Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs).  As 
it relates to military programs, Embassy team continues to 
raise the matter of Article 98 with relevant GON officials, 
though the GON civilians have not budged on that issue.  On 
the law enforcement side, local police seek more training 
opportunities, particularly for urban centers (such as 
Maradi, Zinder and Niamey) that face an increasing amount of 
crime and smuggling of people and contraband (e.g., drugs, 
arms).  The GON and grassroots organizations seek U.S. 
expertise and collaboration on programs to strengthen 
democratic institutions, reduce poverty, improve 
health/nutrition and engage with youth and women. Resources 
that provide the Embassy opportunities to partner and engage 
at the grassroots level are going a long way in accomplishing 
our objectives to strengthen institutions and democracy in 
this predominantly Muslim, democratic nation. End summary. 
 
(U) 2.  In the face of deficient infrastructure and the great 
distances between Niamey and the regional capitals, executing 
an ambitious travel plan these past several months has 
allowed the Embassy team to feel the pulse of the Nigerien 
population. We have conducted extensive travel in the eight 
regions of Niger, even during the dry, dusty, hot month of 
May (with temperatures ranging from 120 to 140 degrees 
Fahrenheit).  We have engaged in a range of cultural, 
educational, military-related, decentralization, 
re-integration, food security, health, women's and youth 
activities.  Nigerien leaders and average citizens have 
expressed appreciation for our efforts and seek more U.S. 
know-how in their endeavors, far more than we can possibly 
deliver given our resources.  What appears to really resonate 
well across the country are projects that address the average 
citizen's fundamental needs: food security, health services, 
education and income-generation. 
 
(C) 3. In the area of anti-terrorism and anti-crime, military 
and police contacts in regions that are not the primary focal 
point of the Trans Sahel Counter Terrorism Partnership 
(TSCTP) have suggested that more attention needs to be 
focused to their regions.  For example, officials in Diffa 
(some 1100 miles from Niamey and located in the easternmost 
region of the country bordering western Chad) have stressed 
that it is even more important for youth in regions far from 
the nation's capital to be exposed to American (or western) 
cultural activities to counter potential extremist influences 
emanating from northern Nigeria and western Chad.  The Zone 
Commander that covers both Diffa and a portion of Agadez 
(most notably Bilma) is concerned about increased banditry 
and smuggling (cigarettes, arms, drugs), as well as 
increasing rebel activity along the Niger-Chad border. 
(Note: Bilma is the town that was devastated by floods in 
early September and that the GON has announced it plans to 
rebuild after the rainy season ceases.  GON officials have 
indicated they may appeal for outside assistance to rebuild. 
End note.)  Further, in a meeting chaired by the Governor of 
Diffa, the Zone Commander responsible for Diffa/northeastern 
Agadez, especially noted interest in hosting a military 
exercise in his region of responsibility and more training 
for officers under his command. 
 
(SBU) 4. Infrastructure projects, humanitarian activities and 
youth-targeted programs funded through the TSTCP, such as 
health clinics, rural radio stations and sports programs are 
huge hits.  For example, while in Tahoua, the military, 
community leaders and women lauded the construction of a 
USG-funded maternity clinic, the first in the region.  It 
serves both military wives and women in the local community 
at large.  Classroom construction at a local school (also in 
Tahoua) is another success story and, as a result, enrollment 
has surpassed the new classroom capacity and the local 
 
community has erected thatched, open air structures 
(equivalent to the use of trailers at U.S. schools) to deal 
with overflow.  The MEDCAP exercise remains the talk of the 
town in Tahoua, so much so, that local community leaders have 
inquired about the possibility of a return MEDCAP exercise, 
and leaders in other regions, have expressed interest in a 
similar MEDCAP exercise in their jurisdictions.  In most 
every locale, there is great demand for more rural radio 
equipment and upgrades for radio stations (many operating 
with outdated reel-to-reel tapes from the 60's era that is 
increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to repair).  These 
stations serve as the primary medium to inform and educate 
the population at large.  Following MIST's successful sports 
caravan, we are being inundated with requests for more youth 
sports activities, for both genders.  As a result of the 
Embassy team's outreach, more proposals that fall within the 
parameters of the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (SSH) 
(i.e., women's agricultural gardens, cereal banks, libraries) 
and the Democracy and Human Rights Fund (i.e., 
decentralization-related workshops, re-integration programs) 
are flowing in at greater numbers.  These projects are a 
lifeline to the communities.  For example, in the town of 
Abalak in Agadez, community leaders noted the SSH-funded 
library is the first in the region and will serve as a 
resource for schools in 12 villages. 
 
(C) 5. The military and police seek more training to enable 
their respective services to protect Niger's borders from the 
influx of criminal and extremist activity.  In addition to 
concerns about ex-combatant Nigerien Tuaregs in the region of 
Agadez who may be influenced by rebel activity in eastern 
Mali, there is growing concern about Nigerien Toubou 
ex-rebels that may be influenced by Toubou rebel activity in 
western Chad.  GON civilian leaders remain reluctant to allow 
the Nigerien military to host large training exercises that 
requires what the civilians deem as too many boots on the 
ground.  Military leaders, on the other hand, are eager to 
host as much training in country as the civilian government 
will allow or, preferably to participate in U.S.-based 
training, such as train-the-trainer programs.  (Note: A draft 
GON budget published earlier this month in the Sahel, the GON 
official newspaper, conspicuously omitted funding for 
military services, a frustration for the military rank and 
file.  It remains to be seen whether the final budget to be 
submitted to the National Assembly for approval will show a 
line item to cover military training or programs.  End note.) 
 
(SBU) 6. Police commanders, in urban jurisdictions such as 
Niamey, have suggested a need to train elite police units, 
such as in surveillance techniques, to help them identify bad 
elements in the community, including some undocumented 
immigrants with uncertain agendas.  Officials and community 
leaders in Zinder and Maradi are concerned as well about 
criminal and extremist influences emanating from northern 
Nigeria, especially in light of these past few months of 
persons engaged in smuggling of contraband. 
 
(U) 7. Regional officials in Diffa and Zinder specifically 
cited the American Corners in Agadez and Maradi as resources 
they would like to see in their respective regions to engage 
and attract the attention of youth.  More seminars and expert 
speakers are desired on a range of subjects: 
decentralization, AGOA, journalism, HIV/AIDS, etc.  Regional 
and commune officials lament that resource constraints hinder 
communities from conducting more activities to engage youth. 
 
(U) 8. Nigeriens can't seem to get enough of the Peace Corps 
(PC) program.  There are 120  PCVs covering several regions 
of the country (Tillebery, Dosso, Konni, Zinder, Maradi), yet 
these same regions are asking for more PCVs to provide 
assistance in the areas of agriculture, health and education. 
 The Governor of Diffa inquired about hosting a few PCVs in 
his jurisdiction, to work on health issues, in schools and 
with women on vegetable gardens or other income-generating 
enterprises. 
 
(U) 9. There remains a great deal of nostalgia for the "good 
ole days" when USAID was a prominant institution in country. 
Officials at all levels of government, NGOs, grassroots 
organizations and citizens in general frequently ask whether 
USAID will open a new mission in Niger, and with the recent 
arrival of the USAID PSC employee, a hunger for broader USAID 
engagement is growing.  The Kennedy Bridge, a USAID project 
of some 30 years ago, still remains the example most 
frequently cited by Nigeriens in public speeches as symbolic 
of the strong U.S.-Nigerien friendship.  the impact of the 
PCVs, who for the most part are required to conduct 
 
fund-raising activities, due to the lack of a dedicated 
funding scheme for their projects, is not short of remarkable. 
 
(U) 10. In sum, there are many options available to partner 
with Nigeriens and they would be enthusiatic, willing 
partners, provided we can deliver the goods. 
 
 
 
 
ALLEN