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R 021054Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
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INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAMAKO 000491 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
OUAGADOUGOU PLEASE PASS TO DAS MOSS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EAGR ML
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY MOSS 
 
REF: BAMAKO 485 
 
1.(SBU)  Summary: We welcome the upcoming visit of Deputy 
Assistant Secretary Moss to Mali.  The Deputy Assistant 
Secretary's visit will provide an important opportunity to 
highlight U.S. support for Mali, a moderate, majority Muslim 
democracy now confronted by two major challenges -- the world 
food crisis and an incipient rebellion in the north. 
According to the World Bank and Mali's Commissioner for Food 
Security, Mali is one of the few countries in the region that 
does not currently face a food shortage crisis.  That said, 
rising food prices have affected consumption patterns in Mali 
and the Ministry of Economy has predicted eventual food 
shortages for some remote areas.  In Mali's northern region 
of Kidal, renewed attacks against the Malian military by 
different Tuareg rebel groups have endangered implementation 
of the Algiers Accords.  Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane 
recently returned from Algiers with welcome news of Algeria's 
decision to resume mediation between Mali and Tuareg forces. 
Unfortunately, rebel attacks continue, making it more and 
more difficult for President Toure to advocate for a peaceful 
solution to the conflict.  Northern Mali also serves as a 
safe-haven for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which 
continues to hold two Austrian hostages.  U.S. assistance to 
Mali plays a major role in addressing the development, 
economic and security challenges confronting the Malian 
government and its people.  Mali is also an important ally in 
the global war on terrorism and a key member of the 
Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP). 
Spreading instability in the north has already forced us to 
scale back assistance efforts for northern Mali and we are 
concerned that increased unrest will have a profound impact 
on our development and security goals for the north.  End 
Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Malian Democracy and International Engagement 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
2.(U)  As a moderate majority Muslim democracy with over 15 
years of democratic experience, Mali serves as an example for 
west Africa and beyond.  President Amadou Toumani Toure, who 
is known to Malians as "ATT," was re-elected to a second and 
final five year term as President in 2007 with more than 70 
percent of the vote.  His closest presidential challenger, 
former National Assembly president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita 
(IBK), finished second with less then 20 percent. 
 
3.(U)  Mali is a responsible and engaged international 
partner.  It has a strong human rights record and is one of 
the few members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference 
to be rated as "free" by Freedom House.  Mali is also a 
leader in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of press freedoms, 
although this record was tarnished somewhat by the 2007 
arrest and conviction of several journalists for "offending 
the President."  The journalists were given small fines and 
suspended sentences.  In addition to serving as the 2007 
Chair of the Community of Democracies, Mali is active in the 
United Nations and other international organizations and has 
participated in several international peacekeeping 
operations. 
 
4.(SBU)  Unfortunately, Mali's political progress has not 
been matched by improved social and economic indicators.  In 
2007 the United Nations gave Mali a ranking of 173 out of 177 
countries on its Human Development Index due in large part to 
literacy rates, health indicators and a per capita GNP that 
are among the lowest in the world.  These factors, along with 
significant food security concerns, insecurity and the 
continued presence of al Qaeda-aligned terrorist elements in 
the country's sparsely populated northern regions, constitute 
serious threats to Malian democracy and regional stability. 
The U.S. plays a significant role in helping Mali to meet 
these challenges and reinforce almost two decades of 
democratic progress. 
 
----------------------- 
U.S. Assistance to Mali 
----------------------- 
 
5.(U)  The November 2006 signing of a Millennium Challenge 
Account compact with Mali made the U.S. the largest bilateral 
donor to Mali.  It also cemented strong U.S. - Mali relations 
and better positioned Mali as a force for stability in a 
politically fragile region.  The USD 461 million compact 
entered into force in September 2007 and includes a USD 234 
million irrigation project north of Segou and a USD 183 
million airport renovation project. 
 
6.(SBU)  Mali is also an important ally in the global war on 
 
BAMAKO 00000491  002 OF 003 
 
 
terror and a key member of the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism 
Partnership (TSCTP).  TSCTP programming in Mali can be 
divided into programs focused on counter-terrorism and 
counter-extremism.  Important counter-terrorism programs 
include bilateral training exercises like Joint Combined 
Exercise Training (JCET) events.  Counter-extremism 
activities include a broad range of Department of Defense 
supported humanitarian assistance, USAID development programs 
and public diplomacy outreach.  The Department of Defense's 
Humanitarian Assistance Program has contributed over USD 3 
million to Mali since 1999 to build wells, construct schools 
and renovate health clinics.  Mali is an active participant 
in the DOD's International Military Education and Training 
(IMET) program.  We also provide resources to train three 
Malian units in peacekeeping operations through the African 
Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) 
program. 
 
7.(SBU)  Malians practice a predominately open and tolerant 
form of Islam and are therefore unreceptive to extremist 
messages.  Our TSCTP counter-extremism programs are designed 
to promote moderate messages and ensure that Malians remain 
unreceptive to extremist ideologies.  TSCTP programs 
administered jointly by the State Department, USAID and the 
Department of Defense are designed to ensure that this 
remains the case and counter the possible spread of extremist 
ideologies.  USAID/Mali considers the northern region of Mali 
an important area and has undertaken activities there in a 
concerted effort since 1999.  USAID/Mali implemented 
approximately $3.7 million worth of activities in the north 
during FY07, including support to 35 rural health centers, 
the construction and reinforcement of 17 community radio 
stations, the establishment of six community telecenters 
offering internet access, the conduct of conflict-mitigation 
activities, support to rice and horticultural commodities, 
the expansion of access to financial services, the provision 
of scholarships and mentoring to 6,500 girls under the 
Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Fund, and the creation of 
teacher training and radio-based instruction for children of 
nomadic populations.  USAID/Mali received an additional $9.5 
million in TSCTP funds and the majority of these resources 
have been earmarked for activities in the north that aim to 
expand economic opportunities for youth, construct additional 
community radio stations, build capacity for local 
government, and support madersas throughout the country.  On 
the Public Affairs side, we have used cultural preservation 
grants to help Mali honor its Islamic heritage by protecting 
thousands of ancient Islamic manuscripts in Djenne and 
Timbuktu and helping to preserve an ancient mosque in Gao. 
We additionally recently celebrated the year anniversary of 
the only American Corner in Mali.  Located in Gao, it has 
allowed us to quadruple our outreach to key contacts in the 
region and to further promote mutual understanding between 
Malians and Americans. 
 
------------- 
Food Security 
------------- 
 
8.(U)  According to the World Bank and Mali's Commissioner 
for Food Security, Mali is one of the few countries in the 
region that does not currently face a food crisis.  The World 
Bank and other donors have, in fact, criticized Mali for 
exacerbating the regional food crisis by blocking the export 
of cereals. Although Mali currently has enough rice for the 
next three months of consumption, this is not enough to carry 
over until the October harvests, creating the potential for 
shortages when current stocks are depleted. Many Malians have 
already begun replacing staple goods with alternative, 
cheaper commodities due to rising food prices. The Minister 
of Economy predicted eventual food shortages in certain 
remote areas and has signaled his intention to request 
assistance from the international community.  Higher prices 
will hit Mali's northern regions harder because these areas 
produce less and import more agricultural products, making 
them more susceptible to exogenous shocks. 
 
9.(U) The USG is already extremely engaged in supporting 
Mali's agricultural sector. USAID provides almost $1 million 
in annual support to Mali's rice sector, including in the 
areas of irrigation, access to arable land, wells, financing, 
and support for the commercial sales of rice. This is in 
addition to the $3 million spent annually by USAID, in 
collaboration with American universities, to help introduce 
new technology into the cultivation of sorghum and millet. 
The MCC's $234 million project in Alatona is focused on 
modernizing the irrigation system and developing 14,000 
hectares of additional irrigable land. 
 
------------------- 
 
BAMAKO 00000491  003 OF 003 
 
 
Security Challenges 
------------------- 
 
10.(SBU)  Security concerns in northern Mali constitute a 
significant challenge for the Malian government (Reftel). 
Mali has weathered two Tuareg rebellions (one in 1963 and a 
second during the 1990s) since independence.  In May 2006 
Tuareg rebels attacked two Malian military outposts in 
northern Mali and rekindled fears of another prolonged 
rebellion.  President Toure resisted calls from some Malian 
political leaders to force a military confrontation with the 
rebels and instead opted for dialogue mediated by Mali's 
northern neighbor, Algeria.  In July 2006 Mali and the Tuareg 
rebels signed a peace agreement, known as the Algiers 
Accords, which pledged to provide increased development and 
infrastructure support to Mali's three northern regions.  In 
2007 a dissident group of Tuareg rebels led by Ibrahim 
Bahanga resumed attacks against Malian military posts and 
convoys.  Bahanga held several dozen Malian soldiers hostage 
for nearly six months until Libya helped negotiate their 
release in March 2008.  Less than two weeks later Bahanga 
seized another group of Malian soldiers.  He and another 
rebel group, the Alliance for Democracy and Change (ADC), are 
now holding anywhere from 60 to 90 Malian soldiers hostage. 
 
11.(SBU)  There are now several different armed Tuareg rebel 
groups and militias operating in northern Mali and attacks 
have spread beyond Kidal to the regions of Gao and Segou. 
Algeria's recent decision to resume its mediation efforts is 
a welcome development.  However, the April 10 executions of 
two ADC members in Kidal and the increasing number of rebel 
attacks have significantly complicated attempts to implement 
the Algiers Accords.  Although President Toure remains 
committed to a peaceful resolution of the current crisis 
through the Algiers Accords framework, pressure for him to 
respond militarily is rising.  Key aspects of the Algiers 
Accords are the creation of special mixed military units and 
the reduction of Malian forces in the north to pre-2006 troop 
levels.  Neither of these components can be implemented 
without a cease-fire that is respected by all Tuareg rebel 
groups. 
 
12.(SBU)  In addition to the unfolding Tuareg crisis, Mali's 
sparsely populated and vast northern regions also serve as a 
haven for smugglers, bandits and terrorist elements.  The 
Malian government is unable to fully secure these zones due 
to their size and remote nature.  Algerian Islamic extremists 
formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat 
(GSPC) but now called al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic 
Mahgreb (AQIM) continue to use northern Mali as a safe haven 
and are currently holding two Austrian hostages on Malian 
territory. 
 
------------------------------ 
Comment: U.S. Support for Mali 
------------------------------ 
 
13.(SBU)  Mali's successful 2007 presidential and legislative 
elections served as an important benchmark for Mali's 
democratic progress.  Renewed Tuareg unrest in northern Mali, 
and the continued presence of AQIM elements, are jeopardizing 
this progress.  Current security, development, and economic 
challenges mean that Mali and international partners like the 
U.S. must work together to ensure that Mali's path toward 
democracy continues to advance in the right direction.  Your 
visit to Mali at this critical moment will serve as a further 
demonstration of USG support for Mali and its people at the 
same time that it will afford an important opportunity for us 
to engage Malian government officials on need for forward 
movement on the Algiers Accords. 
MCCULLEY