CRIME UP-TICK IN DJIBOUTI - RENEWED REQUEST FOR

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001077

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/DSS, DS/IP/AF, DS/ITA, DS/OPO/FPD, AF/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREF SOCI AMGT DJ
SUBJECT: CRIME UP-TICK IN DJIBOUTI - RENEWED REQUEST FOR
RESIDENTIAL GUARDS

REF: A. SPOT REPORT SUBMITTED 10/17/2005


B. SPOT REPORT SUBMITTED 10/24/2005

C. SPOT REPORT SUBMITTED 10/25/2005

D. DJIBOUTI 1005


1. This is an action message. See para 4.


2. Djibouti City has undergone a change for the worse over
the past two weeks, in terms of the nature and intensity of
serious and violent criminal acts. The sharp rise in violent
crime in the city began with the murder of a Third Country
National (TCN) physician on October 14th, the rape of a minor
(17 year old) by eight Djiboutian men on October 16, and
culminated with the murder of a Djiboutian shopkeeper on
October 25th. Interspersed with these acts was the attempted
break-in on October 26 of the residence of a U.S. Embassy
employee. Here is a brief synopsis:

- On October 14th at approximately 2300 Dr. Gouled Houssein
Gouled, a TCN living and working in Djibouti, was attacked in
his parked car by five armed individuals. He tried to defend
himself but was stabbed by one of the attackers and bled to
death before emergency services could reach him. Five
Ethiopian suspects have been arrested and are awaiting trial.
RSO has told U.S. Embassy personnel to stay away from the
area of the attack particularly at night until local
authorities take the necessary measures to secure the area.

- On October 16th at approximately 0100, a minor (17 year
old) who claimed that she was an American citizen with dual
citizenship (unable to verify),was raped near Aviation DA188
(a French military base) in Djibouti. She was walking with
her boyfriend when they were attacked by three Djiboutian
youths. The boyfriend fled to get help and brought back five
more Djiboutians, to no avail as they all proceeded to beat
him and rape her.

- On October 22-25 a transportation strike occurred that
ended in violence and the death of one protester. The police
fired into the crowd during a demonstration on October 24th
after they were overwhelmed. Seven police officers were
injured by rocks being thrown and in an attempt to prevent
further injuries to themselves, the police fired shots at the
protesters. Two protesters were hit, one survived and one
was killed by the shooting.

- On October 25th at approximately 0520 three men attempted
to break in to an American Embassy officer's residence, but
were scared away when a guard from a neighboring house
started yelling and throwing stones at the individuals. This
incident also brought to light the vulnerability of U.S.
Embassy residences as a result of the Department of State's
termination of support for the residential security guard
program.

- On October 26th at approximately 0900 a female Djiboutian
shopkeeper was stabbed to death by four or five attackers
earlier implicated in an robbery of her establishment. This
is of concern to the RSO because her shop is located near the
residences of American personnel.


3. All these events combined with the presence of 60,000
additional unregistered people in Djibouti City is of
increasing concern to the National Police of Djibouti as well
as the RSO. The RSO met last week with the head of the
National Police and was told by the Chief of Police that he
had never seen so many unregistered people in Djibouti and he
himself was concerned about the increase of crime in the
city. Djibouti is taking steps to depart undocumented
aliens, including Ethiopian nationals.


4. Post requests the Department review Djibouti 1005 and
with the information provided in this cable, allow Post to
reinstate its residential guards as soon as possible.
RAGSDALE