DJIBOUTI: GOVERNMENT ANXIOUS OVER ELEVATED PROFILE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000123

SIPDIS

NOFORN

AF/EX FOR D. YAMAMOTO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER PINR DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: GOVERNMENT ANXIOUS OVER ELEVATED PROFILE

REF: DJIBOUTI 110

Classified By: POLOFF C. BEAMER FOR REASONS 1.5 (A,B,C,D)

SUMMARY
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1. (S/NF) Amidst growing Djiboutian Government stir related
to recent explosions (Ref. A) and claims by Puntland
strongman Abdullahi Yusuf of Djibouti arming Somaliland
against him in the Sool region, Post SAO Major Patrick
Anderson received a browbeating on January 27 from
Abdourahman Boreh, perhaps the individual closest to
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh. Boreh expressed a
growing frustration from the Djiboutian side. Boreh believes
that despite their continued and ongoing support of the U.S.
on several counter terrorism fronts Djibouti has not gained
the concrete means to properly protect its own interests. He
made specific mention of the 25 million dollars in FMF
security assistance that Djibouti has yet to see complaining
that in the meantime, "If we take one hit at the Port we are
finished." Boreh was accompanied by Colonel Abdou, head of
the President's Republican Guard, and Mohamed Ali Hassan,
designated American military handler at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The meeting reinforces Post's perception
that the Djiboutians feel recent events have elevated their
profile vis a vis transnational terrorism to unprecedented
levels, while making evident their inability to react
effectively.

THE MESSAGE
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2. (S/NF) The fundamental complaint is not a new one for
those familiar with the recent history of an increased U.S.
footprint in Djibouti. High expectations have been created
by the increased DOD and other U.S. Agency presence here and
Djibouti's business elite want to see the goods delivered.
They are particularly anxious about the security of their
port and airport, the pillars upon which the service economy
is built. Team after team of evaluators from numerous U.S.
agencies have passed through both facilities and still the
Djiboutians do not have the naval capacity to protect their
current port let alone provide the investor assuaging
coverage of their oil terminal project in Dorale that they
desperately want. Boreh cited the recent attack on the train
(see reftel) and increased terrorist actions in Somaliland as
evidence that the terrorist threat in Djibouti has risen
significantly in recent weeks. Boreh said "We (US and DJI)
have those things going on in Somaliland...there are people
there who could do bad things to Djibouti...we (DJI) know the
Ethiopians are doing something with the train...we (DJI) are
going to do some raids and kick the shit out of some people
to send a message...we (DJI) know that Djibouti is the port
and airport and if anything happens to them we are
finished...we (DJI) need the security now, especially with
the new project in Dorale to make sure that the Americans are
safe." He went on to state that the USG must produce some
tangible assistance in order to reassure the military
leadership that they (the USG) are serious about improving
Djibouti's security. The Djiboutians fear that a terrorist
attack at this critical juncture in both their economic
development and the development of what they hope will be a
long term U.S. presence would be the end of their grand
strategy. Major Anderson reminded those present that
Djibouti is not alone in their frustration and that the US
remains committed to helping Djibouti with their security
needs. He noted that the same system used to assist Djibouti
is assisting Afghanistan and Iraq but that it takes time.

THE MESSENGER
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3. (S/NF) Abdourahman Boreh is the financial face of Ismail
Omar Guelleh. He was a relatively minor player in local
Djiboutian commerce until he rode Guelleh's coattails up the
power ladder to his current seat as his richest and most
influential economic advisor. There are three villas
constructed on Djibouti's exclusive Haramous peninsula, the
first belongs to President Guelleh, the second to Boreh, and
the third to ex-President Gouled. Boreh orchestrated the
2001 Arta conference which gave birth to the Transitional
National Government in Mogadishu. Boreh's economic base
starts as the local representative of British-American
Tobacco. When shipments of his cigarettes were seized on the
Somaliland frontier in 2000 it was enough to have the
frontier closed and chill Djiboutian-
Somaliland relations until reparations were paid almost two
years later. Boreh had a category 1 visa hit (later overcome
by Security Advisory Opinion) which Post believes stems from
an Interpol investigation into the illegal exportation of
Ethiopian coffee. He is not widely popular and an opposition
contact said "Boreh would sell you his mother if it meant he
could make a dime." He has close ties to Dubai and the UAE,
including Dubai Ports International. He owns the largest
construction company in Djibouti, Supreme, and has profited
handsomely from construction contracts at Camp Lemonier, home
to U.S. forces in Djibouti.

COMMENT
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4. (S/NF) Boreh and Guelleh have big plans for the oil port
terminal in Dorale. These plans hinge upon a U.S. Naval
contract with Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and a
continued good reputation for security and stability at their
current port. Increased collaboration with the U.S. on many
fronts has elevated their threat profile and in light of
recent explosions on the train and activities in Somaliland,
they are getting nervous. Boreh wants to see the
oft-promised security assistance and he wants to see it
yesterday. Djibouti is less a country than a commercial city
state controlled by one man, Ismail Omar Guelleh. He sent
his money man, who usually does not attend these meetings, to
deliver a message. The Djiboutian Government believes (or
wants us to believe) they are at greater risk to terrorist
attack than ever before. They hope this message will
expedite delivery.


5. (S/NF) Post would like to expedite security assistance as
well and has spoken about this with CJTF-HOA and will raise
the issue with DSCA's Europe, Russia, Americas, and
Sub-Saharan Africa Director, Ms. Jeanne Farmer, later this
week. However, we still believe the train incidents do not
impact the U.S. interest in the Horn and best guesses are
they relate to larger Djiboutian-Ethiopian frictions. End
comment.
SMITH