Britain supported military action against Mugabe in 2008- Wikileaks

The British government supported military action against Zimbabwe following the swearing in of Robert Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe after an election run-off that had been boycotted by first round winner Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change, one of the diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks says.

Britain, however, felt that this would be difficult to sell to the United Nations Security Council and therefore wanted to wait for a resolution from the African Union so that it would appear as if it was backing the African body.

Zimbabwe Desk officer in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jason Moore, felt that it might not be a bad thing to have “somewhat protracted discussions” on sanctions as a lever to convince those close to Mugabe to engage in negotiations.

The cable which was dispatched from the US embassy in London on 7 July 2008, was based information obtained from Moore on 1 July, the same day the AU was expected to pass its resolution on Zimbabwe.

The cable was headlined: UK supports UNSC Chapter VII Resolution. The resolution gives the United Nations Security Council powers to maintain peace. According to Wikipedia:  “It allows the Council to ‘determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression’ and to take military and nonmilitary action to ‘restore international peace and security’.”

Moore told US embassy officials that the US draft UNSC resolution on Zimbabwe looked exactly like that the UK would have drafted, but said it might be difficult to sell to the security council.

He said an African Union statement that was due the same day would set the tone for discussions in the security council. A weak statement was going to make sanctions more difficult.

Though Britain wanted the resolution to “pass now”, Moore said, it might not be a bad thing to have protracted negotiations to get those close to Mugabe to negotiate.

“Pushing for the vote too early, if there is not the necessary support to pass it, would probably not be helpful,” the cable says. “Depending on the AU’s statement tonight, the UK hopes to take the line that sanctions are a mechanism to back up the AU process and that targeted measures are a way to remain in step with the African approach, rather than a punitive approach.”

It is not clear how the UK felt about the AU resolution as there is no immediate follow up cable to explain the British attitude. But the AU passed a resolution urging Mugabe and Tsvangirai to negotiate for an amicable solution.

Mugabe was at the summit having “won” the election on June 27 and being sworn in on June 29 and flying off to attend the AU summit.

The AU decided to:

To encourage President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the MDC Party Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and the reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people;

To support the call, for the creation of a Government of National Unity;

To support the SADC Facilitation, and to recommend that SADC mediation efforts should be continued in order to resolve the problems they are facing.  In this regard SADC should establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution; and

To appeal to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue.

The AU statement concluded that “in the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that the people of Zimbabwe will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one Nation, provided they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large”.

Full cable:

UK SUPPORTS UNSC CHAPTER VII RESOLUTION

Ref ID: 08LONDON1745

Date: 7/1/2008 11:47

Origin: Embassy London

Classification: CONFIDENTIAL

Destination: 08STATE69693

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Tags: PREL,PHUM,KDEM,UNSC,ZI,UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001745 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP – REBECCA GOLDENBERG USUN FOR JEFFREY DELAURENTIS AND KIRK MCBRIDE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018 TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KDEM, UNSC, ZI, UK SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK SUPPORTS UNSC CHAPTER VII RESOLUTION REF: STATE 69693 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly, reasons 1.4 (b/d). (C) FCO Zimbabwe Desk Officer Jason Moore told us July 1 that the U.S. draft UNSC resolution on Zimbabwe “looks exactly like what the UK would have drafted,” but it may be a difficult sell in the Security Council. Moore thought the African Union’s statement, due to be released this evening (July 1), would set the tone for discussions in the Security Council, and a weak AU statement would make sanctions more difficult. Moore said while the UK would like the resolution to pass now, it may not be a bad thing to have “somewhat protracted discussions” on sanctions as a lever to convince individuals close to Mugabe to engage in a negotiations process. Pushing for the vote too early, if there is not the necessary support to pass it, would probably not be helpful. Depending on the AU’s statement tonight, the UK hopes to take the line that sanctions are a mechanism to back up the AU process and that targeted measures are a way to remain in step with the African approach, rather than a punitive approach. The Cabinet Office will meet later today (July 1) to discuss HMG’s objectives and to determine its tool box for keeping up pressure bilaterally and through the EU. We will report on the outcome of this meeting septel. Visit London’s Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX TUTTLE

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