VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAN #0809/01 3400647
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050647Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1831
INFO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0004

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000809 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/FO AND AF/E 
DEPT FOR EB AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM EINV PREL PGOV CN
SUBJECT:  Comoros National Assembly Passes (Sort Of) Economic 
Citizenship Law 
 
REF:  ANTAN 523 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The diplomatic corps was twice convoked December 
3 for contradictory versions of recent events at the National 
Assembly on a vote for an "economic citizenship" law.  First, 
National Assembly President Bounou and Grande Comore Island 
President Abdouwahabi (both opposition leaders) told the diplomatic 
corps the "dictatorial Sambi regime" had violated procedure to 
illegally pass a bill offering Comoran citizenship to wealthy 
foreigners.  Then, no less than six Union Ministers met the 
diplomatic corps to argue the Union Government's case that despite 
Bounou's reticence, a majority of Deputies actually voted to pass 
the law.  It remains to be seen if the law will in fact be 
promulgated.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Opposition Version... 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (SBU) National Assembly President Bounou and Grande Comore Island 
President (Governor) Abdouwahabi convoked the diplomatic corps 
December 3 to complain of the "dictatorial Sambi regime."  The 
opposition version was that a recent session of the National 
Assembly voted to reject the GOC-sponsored bill on "economic 
citizenship."  They further asserted that the Assembly Vice 
President, with GOC support, reconvened Deputies outside procedure 
to "illegally" pass the bill.  Bounou vowed to fight against the 
promulgation of the law, which he argued was not properly passed. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Continuing the opposition list of grievances, Abdouwahabi 
complained that Sambi had added a color to the national emblem, 
replaced the Constitutional Court President in June, replaced state 
enterprise directors general in Moheli, allowed the mandates of 
island assemblies in Anjouan and Moheli to lapse, and now planned a 
constitutional referendum to "consolidate his power."  African Union 
ResRep Mourad took the opportunity (following the recent visit of AU 
Special Envoy Madeira) to ask Abdouwahabi if now were not perhaps 
the time to convene the Technical Preparatory Committee (CTP) to 
pave the way for Inter-Comoran Dialogue.  Abdouwahabi (who in 
September refused high-level talks in favor of a technical level 
format) refused to send any Grande Comore officials for the CTP, 
instead insisting meetings should occur at a high level.  (Comment: 
Bounou and Abdouwahabi are playing into Sambi's hands. By refusing 
dialogue, they give the Union the excuse to ignore the opposition 
and push their own agenda.  End Comment) 
 
... Union Government Version 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (SBU) Later December 3, Minister of Defense (and GOC Cabinet 
Director) Dossar, with five other ministers, convoked the diplomatic 
corps to share their version.  He said 18 deputies out of 33 voted 
in favor of the economic citizenship law.  Dossar accused Bounou of 
being against the law, making a mockery of procedure, and refusing 
to allow the majority of deputies to be heard.  The GOC recognizes 
the second vote, convened by the Assembly Vice President after 
Bounou left parliament, at which 14 deputies plus four proxies were 
counted as 18 in favor of passing the law.  Minister Dossar said the 
GOC has officially requested an affidavit from Bounou confirming the 
bill passed so that President Sambi can sign it into law. 
 
¶5. (SBU) When diplomats shared the alternate version from the same 
morning, Minister Dossar was dismissive and insisted the Bounou had 
lost the confidence of deputies and was likely to be removed as 
President.  He justified the economic citizenship law as necessary 
to promote investment in the Comoros; to offer guarantees to wealthy 
foreigners that their capital would be protected.  Not full 
citizenship, Dossar explained, but a "status" that would offer 
special privileges to investors.  He suggested that such investors 
would get passports, but not get full rights to vote in the 
Comoros. 
 
Comoro Gulf Holdings 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶6. (SBU) Working closely with the Union Government, the private 
Kuwaiti investment group, Comoro Gulf Holdings (CGH) has actively 
worked for passage of this law, funding a "fact-finding" trip 
(including gifts of laptops and other goodies) for six Deputies to 
Kuwait.  All voted against the bill in July and now are voting in 
favor.  The GOC and CGH say the economic citizenship law is purely 
to offer guarantees and confidence to investors; with nothing to do 
with "4,000 stateless Bedouin families," as appeared to be the case 
in the July version of the bill (REFTEL).  An estimated 200 Comorans 
protested in Moroni December 4 against the economic citizenship 
law. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  A member of the diplomatic corps quipped, "as 
usual, the GOC's story is better than the opposition."  The GOC 
 
outmaneuvered the hapless Bounou and obstructionist Abdouwahabi. 
Neither side appears to have followed legal procedures to the 
letter, but the diplomatic corps is persuaded that in fact 18 
deputies voted in favor of the law; thus the Union is more in the 
right, and the opposition is more in the wrong.  Comoran public 
opinion remains convinced that thousands of Bedouins could descend 
on Moroni any day; the GOC has done no public outreach to assuage 
their fears. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment Continued:  The motivation behind CGH's advocacy 
for this bill is unclear.  On the surface and according to their 
officials, this is purely to promote investment (including their 
own) with assurances and guarantees.  However, suspicion looms in 
the Comoros that CGH in fact has some reason to seek this law in 
order to facilitate passports for thousands of stateless Bedouins. 
They deny this, but once passed, it is possible the law could serve 
both purposes.  Perhaps the assurances CGH really seeks are to 
powerful interests in Kuwait to fix their Bedouin problem.  End 
Comment. 
 
MARQUARDT