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FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
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UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001114 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - AMBASSADOR COURVILLE 
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
PRETORIA FOR POLCOUNS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MOPS EAID PHUM CN
SUBJECT:  DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN MORONI DISCUSSES CRISIS 
 
REF:  ANTAN 935 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  The diplomatic corps in Moroni and Government 
of the Union of the Comoros were surprised by Grande Comore island 
president Abdouloihab's visit to Anjouan.  The international 
community, led by the African Union (AU), is working to apply 
sanctions and encourage the Union Government to give these measures 
a chance.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Chinese, South African, French, Malagasy, and UNDP 
diplomats met October 30 to discuss the Anjouan crisis, particularly 
the bizarre visit of Grande Comore island President Abdouloihab to 
Anjouan to meet renegade Colonel Bacar.  The United States was 
represented by our Comoran FSN in Moroni.  The diplomatic corps 
shared the Union Government's surprise at Abdouloihab's actions, 
agreeing they could undermine the African Union (AU) sanctions 
(reftels).  Abdouloihab's trip report to the AU office in Moroni 
caused further shock and dismay:  he said Bacar will accept 
elections only after an "official meeting between all three island 
presidents."  This proposal is problematic in at least two ways:  1) 
lending undeserved credibility to Bacar and 2) leaving the Union out 
of the process. 
 
¶3.  (U)  On October 27, the GOC published the official list of 
Anjouan residents who will be targeted by AU sanctions.  Naming 145 
people, the list included Colonel Bacar, his ministers and advisors, 
nearly all of the gendarmes officers, the directors general of the 
University of Patsy and the hospital of Hombo, several 
parliamentarians, and members of the local electoral commission 
(Post sent the full list to AF/E). 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Mozambican Minister and AU Special Envoy Madeira arrived 
October 30 in Moroni to establish a commission to implement 
sanctions.  The group will include Comoran, AU, and Arab League 
officials.  Flights and boats from Moroni to French Mayotte, which 
previously stopped in Anjouan on the way, have been diverted instead 
to stop in Moheli.  Flights and boats that must pick up passengers 
in Anjouan must subsequently stop in Moheli en route to Mayotte for 
Union officials to ensure passengers are not on the sanctions list. 
Union officials report one of Bacar's people left Anjouan by boat 
during the past week and has arrived in Mayotte - they are working 
with the French Embassy to seek his return to the Comoros. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  In a curious acknowledgement of Union helplessness, the 
Minister of External Relations has asked all Embassies to encourage 
the island presidents of Grande Comore and Moheli to be 
"responsible" in their efforts to resolve the crisis. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  The Union Government has made it clear it will 
not "sit down at the table with a rebel."  Union officials will 
oppose Bacar's proposal for talks between island presidents, his 
latest stall tactic, and at their behest the international community 
will likely follow suit.  It seems Union President Sambi's only 
option is to maintain the "wait and see" strategy to see out the 45 
days of AU sanctions.  END COMMENT. 
 
MARQUARDT