VZCZCXRO1849
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #0008/01 0061634
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061634Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0601
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 000008 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CM ECON EFIN PGOV PREF PREL
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S RELATIONS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS 
 
REF: A. YAOUNDE 961 
     ¶B. YAOUNDE 1057 
     ¶C. YAOUNDE 1046 
     ¶D. 09 ABUJA 2027 
     ¶E. 09 ABUJA 2148 
     ¶F. 09 LAGOS 0465 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  In a December 16 meeting with Pol/Econ 
Chief, the Foreign Ministry's Director for African Affairs 
said recent visits to Cameroon by the Presidents of Chad and 
Cental African Republic focused on security and regional 
integration (especially the corruption scandal in the Central 
African Bank - BEAC).  Relations with Equatorial Guinea 
remain strained but positive ties with Nigeria continue to 
strengthen.  While a gracious host to his counterparts, it is 
not clear how actively President Biya is seeking a greater 
regional leadership role.  End summary. 
 
Chad and CAR Discuss Security and BEAC 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Ministry of External Relations Director for 
African Affairs and Minister Plenipotentiary Chantal Mfoula 
Edjomo described Cameroon's relations with its neighbors as 
"excellent," built on the principle of "peaceful 
coexistence."  The recent visits of Chadian President Idris 
Deby (October 28-29) and Central African Republic (CAR) 
President Francois Bozize (December 7-8) focused on two 
priorities:  border security and preparations for the 
upcoming Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC) 
meeting.  Edjomo noted that Cameroon suffers the consequences 
of conflicts in the region, especially trafficking in illicit 
arms, highway banditry ("coupeurs de routes"), and refugees 
(Cameroon hosts about 90,000 refugees).  The Heads of State 
worked to resolve these issues, as well as discussing the 
need to more clearly demarcate their borders.  They discussed 
prospects for the return of refugees, although Edjomo 
asserted that Cameroon would not turn back refugees. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Reforming the Central African Bank (BEAC) tops the 
CEMAC agenda, in the wake of recent corruption scandals (ref 
A).  There is a consensus that "the division of 
responsibility" needs to be reexamined, Edjomo said, noting 
that the scheduled December CEMAC meeting in Bangui was 
postponed because of the Copenhagen climate change summit.  A 
new date has not yet been set, although it might be 
mid-January to coincide with a scheduled meeting of the 
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).  She 
noted that the issue of freedom of movement within the region 
will likely also be discussed since Gabon and Equatorial 
Guinea still required visas from other CEMAC members. 
 
¶4.  (U)  The Presidents also discussed economic issues, since 
both CAR and Chad depend heavily on transport and other 
economic ties with Cameroon, Edjomo said.  (Note:  virtually 
all of Bangui's and western CAR's imports come through 
Douala.  End note.)  They talked about projects to improve 
roads connecting them, to reduce losses on these roads (from 
banditry and corruption).  Biya and Bozize talked about 
creating a joint training center for the mining sector. 
 
Equatorial Guinea 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Edjomo acknowledged some tensions with Equatorial 
Guinea.  EG temporarily, unilaterally closed its border with 
Cameroon because of alleged security concerns, she said. 
(Note: the border has now been reopened.  End note.)  The EG 
government is uncomfortable with the size of the Cameroonian 
population in the country (which she estimated at 20-30,0000) 
and in June expelled about 1,000 Cameroonians. 
 
Nigeria 
------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Edjomo praised the "new spirit of relations" with 
Nigeria which continues to flourish following the handover of 
Bakassi in 2008.  Over the past year, Nigerians participated 
in a trade fair in Douala and Cameroonian businessmen 
reciprocated in Calabar.  Cameroon hopes at some point in the 
future to export electricity to Nigeria from Adamoua Region. 
The neighbors are cooperating in telecommunications and in 
demarcating the border as part of the UN-sponsored Mixed 
Commission process (more details septel).  Edjomo 
acknowledged some continuing areas of friction, noting, for 
example, that the GRC was investigating claims that Nigerians 
are being harassed by Cameroonian security forces in Bakassi. 
 Cameroonians are frustrated by apparently Nigerian-led 
pirate and bandit attacks in the Southwest Region (including 
Bakassi) and offshore. 
 
 
YAOUNDE 00000008  002 OF 002 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Cameroon's relationship with its neighbors is 
generally excellent and improving, with the exception of 
Equatorial Guinea.  Ali Bongo's visit was hailed in the press 
as "having an air of renewal" and "putting an end to a long 
rivalry".  The recent start of border demarcation is a 
further sign of stronger Cameroon-Nigeria ties.  Relations 
with Congo-Brazaville are good, although the GRC has given 
that country less attention in the past year than other 
neighbors.  During the Deby and Bozize visits, Biya 
proclaimed "your security is our security," while also 
discussing the free movement of people, plans to sell 
Cameroonian power, educational ties, forestry cooperation, 
the Copenhagen climate change summit and institutional ties, 
according to the local press.  During Deby's visit, both 
presidents highlighted the importance of the COTCO oil 
pipeline and the Douala-Ndjemena road connection.  According 
to press reports, President Deby thanked Cameroon for its 
financial assistance in helping repel rebel attacks. 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  EG-Cameroon tensions have been exacerbated in 
recent years not only by the expulsion of Cameroonians and 
maritime border disputes but by the 2008 kidnapping by EG of 
an army colonel who had been granted asylum in Cameroon. 
Nonetheless, Cameroon and EG have worked together to reform 
BEAC, cooperated in a September conference to demarcate 
maritime borders, and met in Mixed Commission meetings to 
discuss various disputes.  According to senior government 
officials, Biya works to contain bilateral disputes. 
 
¶9.  (SBU)  Edjomo preferred not to use the word "leadership" 
in discussing President Biya's regional role.  During his 
July meeting with French President Sarkozy, Biya had offered 
to "be available to help" on regional issues, Edjomo said, 
but his role was largely dictated by his age (76).  As the 
elder statesman in Central Africa, regional heads of state 
felt they had to consult Biya on major issues, according to 
Edjomo.  Deby and Bozize had initiated contact to visit 
Cameroon, she said, adding that Biya then "according to 
protocol" extended an invitation.  The September 11 visit of 
Ali Bongo was different because he was making a regional tour 
as a President-elect, she noted (although the BEAC issue, 
which implicated Gabon, was hot at the time). 
 
¶10.  (SBU)  Edjomo's view of President Biya as a default 
regional leader contrasts with the perspective recently 
offered by senior presidential aide Rene Sadi, who told 
Ambassador that Biya is more actively assuming "natural" 
Central African leadership following the death of former 
Gabonese President Omar Bongo.  As suggested ref C, Biya's 
regional activism may reflect domestic political signaling 
and concern for his legacy more than a new interest in 
regional affairs.  That said, Cameroon does have interests at 
stake in its relationship with the region, not the least of 
which is keeping its neighbors at peace.  As one of the more 
stable, prosperous, and strategically located countries in 
the area, Cameroon is likely to stay engaged bilaterally 
while continuing on the track of what Biya called the "wise 
slowness" of regional integration efforts. 
GARVEY