VZCZCXRO9438
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAN #0531 2121326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301326Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1484
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000531 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD ENRG ASEC CN
SUBJECT: COMORANS PROTEST ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE 
 
REF:  ANTAN 479 
 
¶1. (U)  Hundreds of Comorans took to the streets of Moroni this week 
to protest acute fuel shortages.  The demonstrators, many of them 
taxi drivers, remained peaceful and carried banners critical of 
President Sambi. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  EmbOffs (who visited the Comoros July 23-30) found fuel 
virtually unavailable in Moroni, with their rental car having only a 
quarter tank for a week-long visit.  There is virtually no fuel 
remaining in the Comoros; dwindling stocks of gas and diesel are 
held at the Port of Moroni or traded on the black market. 
Electricity, already a chronic problem in the Comoros, is available 
only two or three hours in 24.  Public water is limited to when the 
power is on.  The Port operator told EmbOffs his emergency stock is 
almost gone - when he runs out in the next week, he will have to 
suspend Port operations.  Given Comoros imports everything, the 
impact will be immediate.  The operator has also provided some fuel 
to the main hospital in Moroni. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  The Port operator said rumors about a tanker en route to 
the Comoros from Tanzania are false.  He said no purchase contract 
has been signed; after which at least four more days will be 
required for the shipment.   Protestors blame Sambi for cancelling 
the fuel contract with the French oil giant TOTAL before putting in 
place a new arrangement (REFTEL). 
 
¶4. (SBU)  COMMENT.  Lack of fuel and spiking food prices are a 
dangerous mix and Sambi's government has certainly earned the 
criticism for having abandoned an imperfect arrangement before 
putting in place a better one.  The reports that no relief is 
imminent are worrisome because they raise the specter that peaceful 
protest could boil into a serious public security at some point in 
the future.  ENS COMMENT. 
 
SIBLEY