GWOT Assessment: Input from Dar es Salaam

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 000684

SIPDIS

FOR AF/FO

E.O. 12958: 4/06/15
TAGS: PREL PTER TZ
SUBJECT: GWOT Assessment: Input from Dar es Salaam

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Michael S. Owen for
reason 1.4(d)

REF: STATE 60775

1.(S) US and Tanzanian law enforcement and
intelligence officials have built a strong working
relationship, forged in the immediate aftermath of the
1998 al Qa'ida bombing of our embassy in Dar es
Salaam. Our most effective programs have built on
that relationship while helping to increase the
capacity of our Tanzanian counterparts through
training and technical assistance. Successful
programs have focused on the Tanzanians' immediate
concerns for improved law enforcement and border
security. These programs ensure that, in the event
that the US, Tanzania and the region need to cooperate
on a terrorism-related case, our Tanzanian
counterparts will be competent, accustomed to joint
operations, and committed to countering terrorism. A
summary of our top CT priorities follows. Each
program description includes a "straight line" budget
scenario and a scenario that envisions a modest budget
increase.

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ILEA/ATA police training programs
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(C) These programs should be continued, and expanded,
if possible. For several years, the mission has had
an active program to train police in areas ranging
from forensic investigation, post-blast investigation,
and peaceful crowd control. The police capacity has
increased significantly, as has their readiness to
cooperate with us on issues of local concern. Given
additional funding, RSO could launch a program to
enhance land border control. This would include
training and technical assistance for law enforcement
officers (including parks officials and game wardens,
since many remote border areas are located in parks or
game reserves.) A complete land border control
program would include training patrol units and
equipping headquarters with radios, generators and
vehicles suitable for patrolling rugged terrain.

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PISCES
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(C) This program, which greatly enhances Tanzanian
capabilities to monitor established border crossings,
is very popular with law enforcement and immigration
officials in Tanzania and throughout the region.
Under the current program, five sites in Tanzania have
received computerized equipment to capture data from
entrants, training for officials in its use, and even
electric generators where applicable. The five sites,
which include each of Tanzania's three international
airports, the Zanzibar seaport and the Namanga
crossing on the land border with Kenya, are now
rapidly building their capacity to network and
exchange data. Tanzania introduced its machine-
readable passport last month, adding to the system's
capabilities. Given a "straight line" budget, Mission
would continue this program to network the existing
PISCES sites. Given additional funding, Mission could
expand the number of ports of entry included in the
program. Over the longer term, as trust throughout
the region increases, PISCES sites could be selected
by a regional consortium, and networked on a regional
or international basis.

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Counter-terrorism Joint Fellowship Program
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(C) Currently, the Mission is allotted 2-3 slots per
year for Counter Terrorism training that ranges from
two weeks to 18 month degree programs. Considerable
absorptive capacity remains, however since these slots
can be allocated among members of the military,
militias such as the KMKM "Zanzibar Coast Guard," and
the police. Mission could effectively handle double
the current number of slots, in order to more quickly
build up a group of counter-terrorism experts in law
enforcement and the military who are familiar with
American systems and accustomed to working with
American personnel.

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Intelligence exchanges
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(S) ORCA enjoys generally good relations with its
Tanzanian counterpart, the Tanzanian Intelligence and
Security Service (TISS),and benefits from occasional
exchanges of information. This relationship could be
further strengthened by continuing ongoing programs to
train and professionalize TISS personnel. Some old-
line socialists remain in the organization, and could
become more prominent depending on the outcome of the
October 2005 elections. ORCA may benefit from a post-
election outreach program with the TISS to bolster
trust in the US. Given significant new funds and a
long-term outlook, we could support a Fusion Center,
in which counterparts from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia,
Djibouti and Comoros could exchange information and
build regional ties.

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Aviation Safety Program
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(U) For several years, the Mission has worked closely
with the TSA-FAA to install security equipment at
Tanzania's three international airports, and to train
airport security personnel in its maintenance and use.
In 2002, we provided almost a million dollars worth of
scanners, x-ray machines and wands to these three
airports, all of which have become visibly more
secure. Training programs continue. Recently, a Dar-
based Dutch diplomat inquired about prospects for
cooperation between the US, the EU, and Tanzania on
aviation security. We anticipate reviving our multi-
country Aviation Safety Committee, originally
established through the CTAG, to explore new programs
to improve aviation security, and to spread the costs
among various interested parties.

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Treasury Office of Technical Assistance: Anti-Money
Laundering Regime
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(U) Since 2002, teams of experts from Treasury OTA
have conducted training and facilitation sessions with
their Tanzanian counterparts in the Finance Ministry,
banking sector and law enforcement agencies. Tanzania
is on the verge of realizing an intermediate goal of
this program: we expect Parliament to table
comprehensive anti-money laundering legislation during
its April session. The Mission seeks to continue this
program at least at its current level, so that OTA can
continue working with its Tanzanian counterparts to
strengthen the financial regulatory system after
Parliament approves the enabling legislation. The
ultimate goal is the establishment of a Financial
Investigation Unit (FIU) which can effectively
investigate and prosecute financial crime, including
terrorist finance.

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Self Help
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(C) This small grants program, funded through 116 (e),
is one of our most effective Muslim outreach programs.
These small projects generally originate from a
community's initiative and invariably provide the most
bang for the buck of all our programs. Not only does
Self Help enable us to do something tangible to assist
impoverished communities and to build good will for
the United States, the program also provides embassy
personnel with a reason to travel to some of the most
far-flung areas of the country, and establish a bond
with local officials and community leaders. This is
particularly important in the light of the GOT closure
- at our behest - of several foreign Muslim NGOs that
were also doing community development projects.
Historically, we have received USD 50,000- 60,000
annually for this program. However, in FY 04, we
received over USD 250,000 for Self Help; through the
East African Counter Terrorism Initiative. The last
of the 29 projects from that windfall year, including
school dormitories and libraries, rural water
projects, and weaving cooperatives, are nearing
successful completion. Embassy Dar has a demonstrated
capacity to administer a much larger Self Help
program, and we would welcome an opportunity to do so
again.

OWEN