VZCZCXRO2988
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0109 0570820
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260820Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4873
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000109 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/EA 
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
PLS PASS TO TSCTP COLLECTIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PHUM SCUL PINR PTER ML NG
SUBJECT:  GON OPENS PEACE AND SECURITY FORUM ON NORTH 
 
Ref:  a) 08 Niamey 01116, b) Niamey 00090, c) USDAO Niamey IIR 6 928 
0017 09 
 
¶1. On February 25, the Government of Niger (GON) opened the two-day 
"Forum on Peace and Security" at the Hotel Tenere in Niamey under 
the auspices of the Ministry of Interior and the High Commissioner 
for the Restoration of Peace.  DCM and Pol Specialist attended the 
opening session, which roughly 250 were present, including 
governors, majors, members of parliament, civil society and NGO 
representatives, village leaders and traditional chiefs, diplomats, 
and journalists.  The event also drew the participation of a sizable 
delegation from Mali, including the governors of Gao and Kidal, the 
mayor of Anderamboukane, the president of a council of sages of 
Menaka, a national assembly deputy, NGO representatives, and 
prominent Tuareg leaders. 
 
¶2. Niger's High Commissioner for the Restoration of Peace, Mohamed 
Anacko, gave in his welcoming speech background to the conflict in 
northern Niger from the early 90s to the 1995 Peace Accord brokered 
by Nigerien mediators with support from France, the United States, 
Libya, Algeria, and Burkina Faso.  He said that the current conflict 
that broke out in early 2007 had "paralyzed economic activities in 
the Agadez region," afflicted Nigerien families, and threatened 
national unity.  He cited the GON's efforts, with support from 
"friendly countries," in reintegrating ex-combatants and developing 
social and economic reinsertion programs for them.  Anacko welcomed 
the Malian delegation and praised their "testimony for peace."  He 
defined the objectives of the forum as making a candid, 
"non-complacent" analysis of the insecurity situation, and 
developing and agreeing on strategies to settle the conflict in 
northern Mali and Niger, deriving on the participants' expertise, 
experiences, and wisdom. 
 
¶3. In his opening remarks, the GON's Minister of Interior, Public 
Security, and Decentralization Albade Abouba declared that "at a 
moment where Niger and Mali, unfortunately, once again, face 
conflict due to the senseless acts of some of their youth, this 
forum could not be more timely."  He pointed out that some of their 
motivations were "understandable," particularly those seeking the 
economic and social development of their region.  He stressed that 
the governments of Mali and Niger had made considerable efforts to 
address those demands, which led to peace accords in the 1990s with 
support from "friendly countries."  He said that the implementation 
of various programs had allowed the reintegration and reinsertion of 
more than 7,000 ex-combatants, but "unexpectedly," despite those 
efforts and prospects for economic growth, a "new behavior" arose, 
which he thought was not a rebellion, but banditry and even 
terrorism in the northern regions, affecting all development efforts 
and perspectives. 
 
¶4. Albade noted that a strong popular mobilization against those 
acts bore fruit, and welcomed the "gradual trend toward peace" in 
recent weeks.  He expressed wishes that the forum could lead to 
peace and sustainable development via a "regular and concerted 
approach" of consultations. He concluded by saying, "I hope (the 
forum) will lead to crucial and everlasting peace...arms should stop 
rumbling and violence should cease...the government has high 
expectations for this forum." 
ALLEN