DJIBOUTI: RECENT CRIME ACTIVITY IS CAUSE FOR

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000514

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OSAC
ADDIS ABABA, NAIROBI AND ASMARA FOR RSO
CJTF HOA FOR ATFP, J-2, J2X AND PASS TO MARCENT FOR ATFP
AND S-2

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: RECENT CRIME ACTIVITY IS CAUSE FOR
CONCERN



1. (SBU) A rash of recent criminal activity has sparked worry
among Embassy personnel, both American and LES alike.
Although the incidents do not indicate a crime wave, they are
definitely cause for concern and caution.


2. (SBU) In the past two weeks, Post has seen three different
acts of violent crime that are generally not associated with
living in Djibouti.

- A local national was convicted of attempted rape against
the spouse of an American citizen assigned to an NGO in
country. The Djiboutian man, who was employed as a gardener
for the family, coerced his way into the residence of the
American under the guise that he needed aspirin for a
headache. The spouse, unsuspecting of her employee, allowed
the man in their residence. The man, knowing that the
husband was away on business, took the woman hostage for
several hours at knife point. During the ordeal, the man
groped and fondled the woman making threatening gestures with
the knife as if to cause her harm, but was never successful
in actually carrying out the rape. The man departed of his
own will, but remained within the perimeter of the residence
making sure that the woman was aware of his presence. The
man was apprehended and remanded the next morning. The
Djiboutian court system proceeded with a speedy trial which
resulted in a conviction and sentencing of 2 years in prison.
RSO and ConOff were instrumental in persuading Djiboutian
authorities to proceed quickly.

- A local national is being held on one count of murder and
another count of attempted murder. An American Embassy local
guard was stabbed to death by the husband of the guard's
cousin. When the local guard returned home from Mosque he
encountered his cousin's husband waiting for him. It is
believed that at this time he began a family discussion with
his assailant, at which time the assailant pulled out a large
knife and stabbed the guard numerous times until he was dead.
After killing the guard, the assailant proceeded to his
wife's home (the cousin of our local guard) and attempted to
kill her with the same weapon. It is unclear whether the
assailant stopped of his own volition or whether he was
stopped by neighbors. The woman was transported to the local
hospital where she is in critical condition. RSO is closely
following up the case with Djiboutian law enforcement. It
must be noted that the assailant was previously convicted of
murder less than 5 years earlier and only served a 2 year
sentence as a result of family restitution based on tribal
law.

- An American Embassy local guard was assaulted while on his
way to work by a group of bandits. The local guard was
confronted by several men (numbers are unknown at this time)
while walking to work on his normal route. After taunting
the guard, one of the bandits struck the guard at which time
the other men joined in on the assault. The Guard was badly
injured suffering bruises and cuts to include a stab wound to
his right arm. The bandits took whatever money the guard had
on him and his watch and then fled the area. RSO is also
following up with the Police on this case.


3. (SBU) In and of themselves, these incidents do not
indicate a dramatic increase in violent crimes, but added to
the many informal reports received, from several different
sources throughout the year, it is only logical to concede
that as the American presence in country continues to grow so
will the attacks on our citizens. RSO will continue to work
closely with Host Nation security services to monitor crime,
but the capabilities of the security services and their
reporting mechanisms are less than efficient or accurate.


4. (U) POC is RSO Marc Ramos at 253-35-39-95.
RAGSDALE