VZCZCXRO7672
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #0247/01 0711442
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121442Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9775
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000247 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CM EAIR ECON
SUBJECT: CAMEROON:  CIVAIR DIRECTOR SAYS CAMAIRCO STALLED 
 
REF: 08 YAOUNDE 587 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  In a February 26 meeting with Pol/Econ Chief, 
Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority 
(CCAA) Sama Juma Ignatius said he was awaiting more 
information to finalize the investigation into the 2007 Kenya 
Airways crash.  The government is breaking up a long held 
monopoly on airport ground handling services and hoping to 
build a perimeter around its major airports.  Juma was 
critical of Camairco, which has a new manager but does not 
appear to be getting off the ground.  End summary. 
 
2007 Kenya Airways Crash 
------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Pol/Econ Chief delivered a February 5 letter from 
the National Transportation Safety Board requesting an update 
on the status of the  investigation of the April 2007 Kenya 
Airways Flight 507 crash in Cameroon.  Juma said the 
Government of Cameroon (GRC) had already compiled its report 
on the crash but was waiting for some additional information 
from Kenya about the crew.  Once the information is received, 
the Minister of Transportation will review it and share it 
more broadly, which he thought would happen by mid-March. 
 
Airports 
-------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Juma noted that a 1998 law abolished monopolies in 
the aviation sector and that the Government of Cameroon (GRC) 
is taking steps to end the monopoly in ground handling 
services currently enjoyed by Aeorports du Cameroon (ADC), a 
parastatal.  ADC has objected, pointing to substantial recent 
investments in ground handling equipment.  Nonetheless, Juma 
agreed that service quality at Cameroon Airports was poor 
despite the steep prices charged to users.  The CAA is doing 
a study of ground handling rates in Africa to assess whether 
rates in Cameroon need to be adjusted (note:  the landing and 
handling fees at Cameroon's airports are said to be the 
highest in the world after Tokyo's, per reftel.) End note.) 
The World Bank is helping the CCAA improve airport 
infrastructure, including building a security fence or wall 
around Douala and Yaounde airports.   The CCAA is in the 
process of doing a feasibility study to begin this process. 
 
Camairco 
-------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Juma said "nothing" has happened to build Camairco 
since a General Manager of the new company was named in 
December 2008. (Note:  national carrier Camair entered 
liquidation and was replaced by Camairco in 2008. End note.) 
The new General Manager, French citizen Gilbert Minonneau, is 
controversial and has yet to put in place a management team, 
according to Juma, who questioned his qualifications to run 
an airline since he is a pilot with no prior experience 
running an airline.  Nems' candidacy was reportedly proposed 
by U.S. company Lion Aviation Group, which has reportedly 
been awarded an 18 month contract to manage Camairco before 
handing turning it over to the GRC.  In January 2009, Juma 
gave Camairco a list of requirements to start up again, 
including a need to submit its recently purchased Boeing 
767-300 for heavy maintenance.  Juma said it would take at 
least three months to certify the airline for operations but 
he has not heard back from the company since submitting his 
requirements. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Cameroon,s civil aviation sector continues to be 
plagued by corruption, stagnation and mismanagement.  The 
CCAA, with World Bank support, has been promising to upgrade 
airport infrastructure for years with no evident progress. 
Douala airport remains unfenced--pedestrians and the 
occasional cows remain unimpeded as they wander across the 
runway--and the screening equipment provided by the USG in 
the course of Cameroon,s Open Sky negotiations has not been 
upgraded and is operated by untrained police officials more 
interested in soliciting bribes than effectively protecting 
aircraft security. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Camairco,s woes, then, are unsurprising.  The 
aviation sector has traditionally been rife with corruption 
and bad governance, and Camairco,s predecessor, CAMAIR, 
failed in large part as a result of the same cronyism and 
backdoor dealing that seems to characterize its most recent 
incarnation.  Juma is a longtime Embassy contact and a 
knowledgeable, approachable interlocutor.  He has faced off 
 
YAOUNDE 00000247  002 OF 002 
 
 
criticism from ADC for breaking its monopoly and his 
frustration with Camairco reflects a recognition that, once 
again, the national airline appears heading into suspect 
leadership, purchases and deals. 
GARVEY