Britain may have forced African leaders to accept Robert Mugabe after his controversial victory in the run-off for the 2008 presidential elections because of the “big fuss” it made over Zimbabwe, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says in a cable released by Wikileaks.
Mubarak told United States senator John Kerry on 2 July 2008, a day after the African Union summit that was held in Sharm El-Sheik in Egypt, that he could not stop Mugabe from attending the summit because Zimbabwe was a member of the African Union but he said some member states condemned Mugabe while others told him to form a unity government and find a role for the opposition parties.
He, however, added that because Britain was behind the “big fuss” over Zimbabwe pressure from other African leaders was “sufficiently soft that Mugabe can do what he wants.”
Mugabe had just won controversial elections after Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out. Tsvangirai had won the first round in March but had not polled enough votes for an outright victory.
Tsvangirai was forced to pull out of the re-run because of violence that engulfed the country leaving about 200 people dead.
The elections were held on 27 June. Mugabe was sworn in on June 29 and left that same evening for the AU summit.
Britain was so frustrated with the impasse after the 2008 elections that it even tried to get former South African President Nelson Mandela who was in London to celebrate his 90th birthday to condemn Mugabe.
It also supported military intervention but felt this would be difficult to sell to the United Nations Security Council.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08CAIRO1637, CODEL KERRY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK
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Reference ID
Created
Released
Classification
Origin
08CAIRO1637
2008-07-31 10:10
2011-02-09 21:09
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
VZCZCXRO0166
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #1637/01 2131008
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311008Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0100
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001637
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL PHUM AU EG IR IS SU
SUBJECT: CODEL KERRY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK
Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey, for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Summary: On July 2, Senator Kerry and the Ambassador
discussed regional developments with President Hosni Mubarak,
including Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel-Palestine.
Mubarak said that Egypt was working to find a solution in
Sudan, but preferred to do so “quietly.” Mubarak warned
against a precipitous U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. While he
called Iranians “liars” and said they sponsor terrorism, he
opined that no Arab state would join the U.S. in a formal
defense alliance against Iran for fear of retaliation.
Mubarak expressed frustration with the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process, and was particularly disparaging about the
lack of Palestinian unity. End summary.
——————-
AU “Soft” on Mugabe
——————-
¶2. (C) In a 60-minute meeting with President Mubarak in Sharm
El-Sheikh, Senator Kerry began by asking for Mubarak’s views
on the discussions at the African Union Summit, which had
concluded in Sharm El-Sheikh the previous day. Mubarak said
he had been at the Summit until late in the evening and was
tired. He reported that some member states had condemned
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, while others told him to
form a national unity government and find a role for the
opposition parties. Mubarak said he couldn’t prevent Mugabe
from attending the conference in Egypt because Zimbabwe is a
member of the African Union. He said the British were behind
this “big fuss” and that the pressure from other African
leaders was “sufficiently soft that Mugabe can do what he
wants.”
——————————-
Sudan: Quiet Diplomacy Is Best
——————————-
¶3. (C) In response to Senator Kerry’s query about the
situation in Sudan, Mubarak said the issue was not discussed
publicly at the AU summit. He also said “this issue could
have been worked out” if it were not debated so publicly
because “two tribes always work things out.” Mubarak noted
Egypt’s attempts to “try and help the (Sudanese) people”
through the Egyptian hospital in Sudan and the efforts of
EGIS Director Omar Suleiman to advise on North-South
negotiations.
——————————
Iraq: Don’t Pull Out Too Soon
——————————
¶4. (C) Turning to Iraq, Senator Kerry asked Mubarak if he had
changed his opinion of Prime Minister Al Maliki after Iraq’s
successful stabilization efforts in Basra and Sadr City.
Mubarak said he “I am not critical. He came to Cairo. I gave
him my phone number but he hasn’t called us.” He noted that
Egypt offered to host and train Iraqi forces, but that the
offer had not been acted upon by the Iraqis. He said the
U.S. “cannot withdraw until you strengthen the armed forces
and police. Until then you have to stay.”
——————-
Beware The Iranians
——————-
¶5. (C) Mubarak’s top concern for the stability of Iraq and
the region is Iran. He believes that “as a result of the
invasion of Iraq, Iran is spreading everywhere.” He urged the
U.S. to be wary of what Iran says. “They are big, fat liars
and justify their lies because they believe it is for a
higher purpose.” He said he believes this opinion is shared
by other leaders in the region. Nonetheless, he opined that
no Arab state will join the U.S. in a defense relationship
vis-a-vis Iran out of fear of “sabotage and Iranian
terrorism.” He said Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism is
“well-known but I cannot say it publicly. It would create a
dangerous situation.” Mubarak said that sanctions are the
best hope for containing Iran, but Arab states won’t dare to
endorse them.
———————————–
Not Optimistic on The Peace Process
———————————–
¶6. (C) On the Middle East Peace Process, Mubarak said he sees
no progress between Syria and Israel and doesn’t expect any
progress between Israel and the PA leadership. He said that
“Palestinians are quarrelling” and Hamas and other factions
will reject any agreement made by Abu Mazen. Senator Kerry
CAIRO 00001637 002 OF 002
suggested the parties appeared to be close in some areas. In
response, Mubarak reiterated he doesn’t believe the many
Palestinian factions will reach agreement and, thus, they
only serve to undermine Abu Mazen’s efforts.
¶7. (C) This cable was not cleared by CODEL Kerry.
SCOBEY
(26 VIEWS)
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