

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10DAKAR127, Ambassador Discusses Corruption with Senegalese President
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10DAKAR127.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10DAKAR127 | 2010-02-18 17:31 | 2010-12-09 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Dakar |
VZCZCXRO7013
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #0127/01 0491731
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 181731Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0079
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DAKAR 000127
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/18
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KMCA ECON SG
SUBJECT: Ambassador Discusses Corruption with Senegalese President
REF: 09 DAKAR 1069
CLASSIFIED BY: Marcia Bernicat, Ambassador, DOS, Exec; REASON:
1.4(B), (D)
¶1. (U) Summary: After nearly two hours of a mostly one-on-one
discussion that included lighter and more tense exchanges,
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade took the suggestion to
demonstrate tangible steps of fighting corruption. Wade relied on
his standard defense of the fact there have been no cases of
corruption brought to trial in recent years. Despite reports from
the budget inspector's court and the inspector general's office,
there have been no trials of prominent civilian or political
figures since Wade's election in 2000. Wade first claimed that: 1)
his political enemies are using the press to make false
accusations, 2) it is difficult to prove corruption exists, and 3)
as President he cannot possibly monitor everything that happens in
his government. He finally acknowledged that it was statistically
impossible for his claims that there is no corruption in Senegal to
be true, and that he needed to address donor concerns regarding
increased corruption in Senegal. Recalling conversations he had
last fall with the Secretary and President Obama, the Ambassador
urged President Wade to help the U.S. continue to help Senegal by
demonstrating through concrete actions a reduction in corruption
levels to avoid any governance-related sanctions. End Summary.
¶2. (U) Ambassador Bernicat opened the one-on-one conversation with President Abdoulaye Wade by presenting him with a signed copy of a photo with Secretary Clinton prior to the signing of the MCC
Compact Agreement in September 2009 and commending his humanitarian outreach to Haitian earthquake victims. She further praised Wade's January 21, 2010 announcement to his Counsel of Ministers of the importance of fighting corruption and that he was open to the possibility of giving Senegal's Anti-Corruption Commission greater autonomy. She explained, however, that there was growing concern in the United States and among Senegal's other donors and the international community about the increase in corruption in Senegal and impunity towards it. His recent response to a letter he received from the new President of MCC, Daniel W. Yohannes, dismissing the issue, she added, served to underline those concerns.
¶3. (U) President Wade responded initially by explaining that it is
difficult to "prove a negative" and that his government does not
seek out cases, absent specific details. It is most important, he
argued, for a government to demonstrate its political will to fight
corruption when it arises, not to go on witch hunts. By way of
example, he acknowledged the European Union had raised concerns about the sale of land used to fund the construction of the African Renaissance Monument, but insisted he has satisfied those concerns. He continued with a detailed explanation regarding why the convoluted sale of public land at different prices was required.
The Ambassador countered that the opaque way in which the land was sold had lent itself to charges of corruption. (FYI. See reftel -
and note that the EU Resident Representative in Dakar found
President Wade's explanation unconvincing and remains critical of
the land deal. End FYI.)
4.(U) The Ambassador responded to President Wade's request for
specific cases to pursue by asking about the status of the
forty-nine cases of alleged money laundering that Senegal's
Financial Investigative Unit CENTIF has referred to the State
Prosecutor since 2005, but which have not yet been brought to
trial. Wade initially responded that the GOS did not want to
discourage foreign investments by scrutinizing every money
transfer. Following the Ambassador's brief explanation that cases
brought to CENTIF were part of a well-regulated international
system made more robust in the wake of the discovery of the role
that terrorist financing played in the 9/11 attacks, Wade convoked
both the head of CENTIF, Ngouda Fall Kane, and the new Justice
Minister, El Hadj Amadou Sall, to explain the delay. He demurred
that he could not interfere in another branch of government, but
the Ambassador parried that it was important, given his commitment
to end corruption, to follow such cases closely and help break any
logjams when they occur. As Senegal was the first Francophone
African member to join Egmont in May 2009, it has a special
responsibility to lead by example. Sall confirmed that CENTIF
cases needed to be taken seriously.
5.(U) Justice Minister Sall, the third person to hold the post in
the last 4 months, had the advantage of inheriting the delays and
DAKAR 00000127 002 OF 003
assured Wade he would investigate the nature of the delays and
resolve them as soon as possible. He also claimed to be pursuing a
number of other corruption cases at the moment and would have some arrests to report shortly.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
¶6. (U) Wade relied only briefly on the argument he used with
President Obama last fall - that his political enemies are inciting
the press to fabricate stories about corruption, but shifted fairly
quickly when the Ambassador asserted that the perception of
widespread corruption has now become a reality that only concrete
actions can effectively address. Another recurring theme
throughout the discussion was that, as President, Wade claimed he
could not possibly know the behavior of every government official.
The Ambassador contended each time that he needed to create an
environment in which it is clear corruption will not be tolerated
and follow through by having those guilty arrested and prosecuted,
highlighting recent years of U.S. assistance to train law
enforcement and judicial authorities in combating money laundering,
corruption, and other transnational crimes. The Ambassador then
argued that corruption is everywhere in the world and that it is
statistically impossible for there to be no cases in Senegal.
Wade, who has an advanced degree in mathematics and statistics,
chuckled and conceded, agreeing that he needed to demonstrate
concrete steps to fight corruption.
¶7. (U) Finally, citing U.S. legislation which now requires
Secretary Clinton's certification of each country's budget
transparency, the Ambassador urged President Wade to adopt the
Integrated System of Public Financial Management "SIGFIP," a
computer system whose automation of the budget process will
significantly enhance Senegal's fiscal reform efforts by making
public funds fully accountable. Wade assured the Ambassador that
only he had been successful in reducing the backlog of the final
budget review process, but the Ambassador noted that the current
backlog meant Senegal would still not meet the standard of the
legislation. SIGFIP would be a comprehensive and foolproof way to
regulate potential corrupt spending within the ministries.
(Comment: Local World Bank officials have promised to pass summary information on SIGFIP to Wade. End Comment)
¶8. (SBU) Tellingly, President Wade ended the discussion by abruptly
asking for assurances that the U.S. Government would not deny
Senegal the MCC Compact at this point, given its focus on improving
conditions of the country's poorest. Ambassador Bernicat explained
to him that development assistance was targeted for a country's
most needy; MCC Compacts were reserved for the developing world's best performers. She stressed that legislation requires that
continued declines in measures of good governance, corruption, or
other indicators would result in Senegal losing its Compact, as
could other egregious acts that meet with Congressional
appropriators' disapproval. That would be especially true of
corruption, she added, reminding him that some Members of Congress had expressed their concerns at the time the Compact was signed.
¶9. (SBU) This meeting closely followed discussions in which the
European Union Representative, the DCM, and Ambassador made similar points to President Wade's son, Karim, the Minister for
International Cooperation, Land Use, Air Transport and
Infrastructure. The Ambassador also briefed a group of core donors
(France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Canada, European Union, World
Bank, and, for the first time in a group setting, China) following
a series of individual meetings to compare notes (as is customary)
and report on actions to counter corruption in Senegal. The group
agreed to continue to place pressure on the Wade administration
constructively, in part, by drawing on a common set of talking
points condemning corruption to raise the level of intolerance for
it in this pre-election season.
¶10. (C) Comment: Several actions (reported septel) taken prior to
or following this discussion suggest to the hopeful that President
Wade is finally taking steps to curb corruption, but post believes
he will walk a fine line between taking these steps and continuing
DAKAR 00000127 003 OF 003
to allow those used to helping themselves to government funds to do
so to ensure their loyalties remain intact. The striking
similarities of the father and son on this issue suggest the two
continue to underestimate the importance of this issue to the
donors and, increasingly, to the electorate. It also suggests that
they continue to work in concert toward preparing the way for a
presidential dynastic succession rather than, as some speculate,
that Karim Wade was undermining a father increasingly sidelined by
his own political missteps of the last few months. President Wade,
who reportedly is more frequently frail and distracted, was robust
and in command of the subject matter throughout the nearly two-hour
discussion. End comment.
SMITH