VZCZCXRO5615
PP RUEHMA
DE RUEHYD #0511 1500751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290751Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8896
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1395
RUEHMA/AMEMBASSY MALABO 0299
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0099
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1738
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2062
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0061
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0695
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 1613
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0463
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0401
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0223
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000511 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
ADDIS FOR USAU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CM MARR MOPS NI PREL PTBS
SUBJECT: UNSYG REP CONCERNED ABOUT BAKASSI HANDOVER 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Ambassador Said Djinnit, the UN Secretary 
General's Special Representative to the Cameroon-Nigeria 
Mixed Commission on the Bakassi border issue, expressed 
concern over security and other matters in connection with 
the upcoming (August 14) transfer of authority in the zone 
currently under Nigerian administration.  He stressed the 
need for quick action on economic assistance for the 
inhabitants of the peninsula to prevent social unrest. 
Djinnit offered his assessment in a May 27 meeting in Yaounde 
with Greentree Agreement observer states US, UK, France and 
Germany; no Government of Cameroon officials were present. 
Representatives of observer states will be invited to the 
August 14 event if security concerns can be managed.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Djinnit said he was focused on building on the work 
of his predecessor in implementing the provisions of the 
Greentree accord as a demonstration of how disputes can be 
settled through dialogue rather than force.  He reported that 
Nigerian government authorities up to and including the Vice 
President told him repeatedly during a recent visit to Abuja 
that the Government of Nigeria would "honor its obligations 
and abide by the rule of law."  But he said he was "worried 
about criminal networks" and "agitation" from local residents 
opposed to the Greentree accord. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Djinnit said the GON's policy was to offer 
resettlement to its nationals living in the administrative 
zone, "but nothing in the meantime to help the people."  He 
said Cameroon PM Ephraim Inoni told him on May 26 that the 
GRC was planning to provide assistance to the Nigerian 
inhabitants in the zone as soon as it reverted to full 
Cameroonian sovereignty.  But he appealed for a "rapid 
reaction program" from the observer states to ensure that the 
transfer went smoothly. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Accompanying Djinnit were two political advisors and 
a senior military advisor, all based with Djinnit at the UN 
Office for West Africa in Dakar.  One advisor noted that some 
land border demarcation issues remained, including several 
potential "hot spots."  The military advisor added that there 
would be two more military observer missions in the zone 
prior to the August 14 handover date. 
 
¶5. (SBU) At a dinner May 27 hosted by Vice Prime 
Minister/Minister of Justice Amadou Ali and attended by 
several ministers and representatives of the presidency, 
Djinnit noted the warm welcome of the Cameroon government and 
hailed the Greentree Agreement as an example of successful 
conflict/border resolution for the rest of Africa, which he 
noted had hundreds of other territorial disputes.  He praised 
the GRC and GON for their courageous decisions in resolving 
the Bakassi issue and respecting the rule of law, adding that 
settling border disputes involves "not only territory but 
also intellectual and cultural borders." 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment.  Djinnit made no mention at the dinner of 
his concerns about security in connection with the upcoming 
transfer of authority and the need for quick action on the 
economic front; he spoke more freely in his earlier, private 
meeting with observer state representatives.  Commenting on a 
a song performed during the evening about a child at war, 
Djinnit added that he planned to spend considerable time in 
his new capacity combating the use of child soldiers in 
Africa. 
GARVEY