R 141718Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8965
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LOME 000014 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, INR, INL/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019 
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PGOV PREL TO
SUBJECT: TOGO: PRESIDENT FAURE COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST 
DRUG TRAFFICKING 
 
REF: A. LOME 718 
     ¶B. LOME 657 
     ¶C. 08 STATE 111195 
 
Classified By: POLOFF SUSAN F. WALKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. President Faure requested a meeting with 
Ambassador Hawkins to discuss the growing drug trade in Togo, 
specifically a drug trade organization (DTO) recently 
apprehended in Lome. He candidly and knowledgeably discussed 
particulars of that case, the need for increased cooperation 
between Togo and the United States, and roadblocks to 
addressing the problems. The Ambassador emphasized the need 
to take a strong stand on drug issues and briefed the 
president on U.S. commitment to continue its assistance to 
Togo. While President Faure seemed willing to move forward on 
everything discussed, only time will tell if he is truly able 
to take action. 
 
¶2. (C) The president started the conversation by telling the 
Ambassador he had originally requested the meeting because of 
the lack of action concerning the removal of Jorge 
Solano-Cortez from Togolese custody (ref A, B). He expressed 
that he was pleased when he found out Solano-Cortez is to be 
expelled tomorrow. Ambassador Hawkins explained that slow 
action on the part of the Togolese prosecutor (who was 
preparing his own case) contributed to the delay. President 
Faure inquired about the USG also taking custody of Willem 
Zabieh, the ringleader of the group. Ambassador Hawkins 
explained that the United States does not currently have an 
arrest warrant for him, but the possibility is being pursued. 
 
¶3. (C) Ambassador Hawkins underscored the importance of 
making a public stand against the drug trade, referring 
specifically to the fact that Togolese Parliamentary Deputy 
Minsoabe Barnabo, who is believed to be the principal 
Togolese facilitator for the DTO, has yet to be arrested due 
to his parliamentary immunity. (Note. It was later determined 
that Barnabo is not even in Togo, but in France for medical 
reasons. End Note). She noted that people will think 
President Faure does not have the will to fight drug 
trafficking if he lets Barnabo go free. Faure assured her 
that the will is there and vaguely described the next steps 
to charge the parliamentarian. The Ambassador inquired about 
a specific provision in the Penal Code of Togo which states 
there is no immunity for parliamentarians who commit grave 
crimes such as murder or traffic drugs; President Faure 
promised to look into it. 
 
¶4. (C) President Faure expressed an interest in continued 
cooperation between the GOT and the USG. He noted that the 
Togolese justice system is not capable of handling cases of 
this magnitude. In-fighting among the various security 
sectors -- gendarme, police, and the intelligence service -- 
make it difficult to get reliable information. Faure stated 
the need for more initial training on not just internal 
security issues, but also specific drug interdiction 
training. He was happy to learn that an assessment team is 
scheduled to come to Togo to evaluate counternarcotics issues 
across the entire criminal justice system. The president 
later expressed his intent to have the ANR (Agence National 
de Renseignement; the national intelligence agency) share the 
names of suspected traffickers with US authorities and asked 
to have them run through criminal databases. 
 
¶5. (C) The president showed the depth of his understanding of 
the problem when he discussed possible avenues forward. He 
noted that there is no political will in Togo or West Africa 
generally to fight trafficking. When asked about the 
participation of his family in the trade, he said he had 
talked to a brother about it (he was not specific as to which 
brother) and did not intend to support illegal activities no 
matter who was involved. President Faure also noted that drug 
money could influence the electoral process in Togo, which 
could further destabilize the already weak country. He said 
that African countries do not cooperate with each other on 
drug issues as they do with the United States. Ambassador 
Hawkins noted that since stopping the drug trade altogether 
is nearly impossible, the best strategy is to make it more 
difficult for traffickers to operate. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment. President Faure spent about 45 minutes with 
just the Ambassador and PolOff; he had no advisors present in 
the meeting. He was forthcoming with information and made 
astute comments on possible consequences of the expansion of 
the drug trade in Togo. Ambassador Hawkins was frank with the 
president about the need that he be seen as a reliable 
partner in the fight against crime and corruption. However, 
although Faure has expressed on numerous occasions that he 
wishes to crack down on the drug trade, the embassy has yet 
to see any concrete actions (such as charging Deputy Barnabo) 
that back up his words. End Comment. 
 
 
HAWKINS