VZCZCXRO0790
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #0696/01 2241610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121610Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0181
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS USTDA 
USDOC FOR ITA - BURRESS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP CM EAIR ECON ELTN EWWT PINR
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S NEW MINISTER OF TRANSPORT WANTS 
BOEINGS, HELP WITH RAILWAYS 
 
¶1.  Summary:  In a July 31 meeting with Ambassador, 
Cameroon's new Minister of Transportation Bello Bouba Maigari 
expressed interest in purchasing three additional Boeing 
aircraft and said the Kenya Airways crash investigation 
should be finalized within three months.  The government 
plans to develop both Kribi and Limbe deep sea ports and 
hopes to revive its railway (he would like a U.S. TDA study 
on the sector).  He is engaging to help mediate disputes 
between U.S. bus company TAUG and the Yaounde Urban Council. 
End summary. 
 
Aviation:  Boeings, Airports, and the Kenya Airways Crash 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶2.  President Paul Biya quickly wants to start operations of 
CAMAIRCO airline, Maigari asserted, noting that its 
predecessor, CAMAIR (which went bankrupt in 2008) was a 
source of national pride and prestige.  CAMAIRCO is 
recruiting personnel and its only airplane, a Boeing 767, was 
recently flown to Ireland for heavy maintenance.  Maigari 
lamented that the northern half of the country is at times 
virtually unreachable because of unreliable air connections. 
 Ambassador passed a letter from Boeing which expressed 
interest in communicating about future airplane purchases. 
Maigari was delighted, noting Cameroon's long experience with 
Boeing and CAMAIRCO's plans to purchase two Boeing 737-700s 
and one 737-800 for flights to Asia.  He would also approach 
Boeing about the possibility of establishing an aircraft 
maintenance center in Douala. 
 
¶3.  Ambassador asked about the status of the GRC final report 
on the 2007 Kenya Airways crash near Douala (Note:  the U.S. 
NTSB submitted comments to the GRC's draft investigation 
report on June 19.  End note.)  Maigari explained that the 
GRC has sent the report to the U.S. and Canada for further 
comment, with a three month deadline before the final report 
is issued.  Maigari appreciated USG assistance in this 
investigation. 
 
¶4.  Maigari also saw the need to improve Cameroon's airports. 
 The Government of Cameroon (GRC) will soon bid out a World 
Bank-funded project to improve airport security with fence 
construction in Douala, and plans to follow up with 
improvements at Yaounde's airport.  The Garoua airport needs 
runway repairs and the Maroua airport needs instrumentation 
and runway enhancements.  The Minister conceded the need to 
reduce airport costs (reputed to be among the highest in the 
world).  A recent presidential decree allowing competition in 
airport management should attract more airport operators if 
the traffic justifies it, he thought. 
 
Camrail Gets Boost 
------------------ 
 
¶5.  The GRC recently signed an agreement to infuse the 
privately run railway company CAMRAIL with new capital.  The 
priority, according to the Minister, is to fix rails damaged 
by chronic overloading.  He also hoped to rehabilitate the 
railway to make it more attractive for passengers and to 
attract private Build-Own-Operate railway investments from 
mining companies.  The GRC has done a study of the railway 
but the Minister was interested in exploring a possible U.S. 
Trade Development Agency (TDA) feasibility study to expand 
the railway. 
 
Two Deep Sea Ports 
------------------ 
 
¶6.  The GRC plans to move ahead with new deep sea ports in 
both Kribi and Limbe.  For Kribi, a feasibility study is 
being finalized, taking into account plans to shift the site 
further south to accommodate larger ships and anticipated 
mining customers.  The Limbe feasibility study is done and 
the project should move quickly, according to Maigari.  He 
thought the new ports would compliment Douala port, which is 
limited because of its heavy siltation. 
 
TAUG 
---- 
 
¶7.  Ambassador asked about the status of disputes related to 
Trans-Automotive Group (TAUG), a U.S. company running the 
Yaounde intra-city bus service "Le Bus".  Note:  TAUG, winner 
of the Secretary's 2007 ACE Award, has had a series of 
problems but appears to be resolving many of them, after 
significant Embassy advocacy.  In its latest dispute, TAUG 
 
YAOUNDE 00000696  002 OF 002 
 
 
plans to purchase new buses but the Yaounde Urban Council is 
reportedly refusing to build the needed bus stops.  End note. 
 Maigari knew about the project and said he was meeting the 
parties in the dispute.  He affirmed the government's 
continued interest in intra-urban transportation. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  Maigari is well known and well regarded nationwide 
because of his prominence over the years and his political 
history (see bio below).  He had an impressive grasp of the 
range of his new portfolio.  He welcomed USG engagement, 
including a recent Coast Guard visit to look at port 
security.  After our meeting we received a follow-up letter 
from Maigari and the Ambassador received a call from the 
Prime Minister further expressing interest in Boeing planes. 
Boeing has completed a U.S. Commerce Department Advocacy 
Questionnaire and is reportedly planning to contact the GRC 
directly. 
 
Bio 
--- 
 
¶9.  Maigari is a Fulani Prince and civil administrator 
trained at the National School of Administration and 
Magistracy (ENAM).  Before being named to his current post in 
the June 30 Cabinet shuffle, Maigari was Minister of State 
for Posts and Telecommunications (2004-2009) and Minister of 
Trade (1997-2004).  He was Secretary General in the Ministry 
of the Armed Forces (1972-75), Assistant Secretary General at 
the Presidency (1975-82), Minister of Economy and Plan 
(1982), and President Biya's first Prime Minister (1982-83). 
In the early 1990s, he returned from exile in Nigeria to 
become President of the National Union for Democracy and 
Progress (UNDP) party, which he still heads.  Maigari ran for 
President in 1992 (coming in third), later became a Member of 
Parliament, and has reportedly expressed his intention to run 
for the 2011 Presidential election.  The UNDP currently has 
six parliamentary seats and is closely aligned to the ruling 
CPDM party.  Maigari is a Muslim from the North Region and 
was an International Visitor in 1993. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GARVEY