Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05GABORONE346
2005-03-10 04:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Gaborone
Cable title:  

TERRORISM FINANCE 2005 UPDATE NO. 2 - BOTSWANA

Tags:  KTFN KVPR EFIN PTER ETTC PREL CVIS BC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000346 

SIPDIS

EB/ESC/TFS (DAVID NELSON),S/CT (TODD KUSHNER),IO/PSC
(JOLEEN SCHWEITZER),AF/S (JACK DIFFILY),TREASURY (JUAN
ZARATE),OFAC (ROBERT WERNER),EB/EPPD (CAROL THOMPSON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015
TAGS: KTFN KVPR EFIN PTER ETTC PREL CVIS BC
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE 2005 UPDATE NO. 2 - BOTSWANA

REF: STATE 32688

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH HUGGINS FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000346

SIPDIS

EB/ESC/TFS (DAVID NELSON),S/CT (TODD KUSHNER),IO/PSC
(JOLEEN SCHWEITZER),AF/S (JACK DIFFILY),TREASURY (JUAN
ZARATE),OFAC (ROBERT WERNER),EB/EPPD (CAROL THOMPSON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015
TAGS: KTFN KVPR EFIN PTER ETTC PREL CVIS BC
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE 2005 UPDATE NO. 2 - BOTSWANA

REF: STATE 32688

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH HUGGINS FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D


1. (U) The following is post's response to reftel request
for an evaluation of the host government's ability to
cooperate in the disruption of terrorist financing. Answers
below are keyed to questions in reftel.


2. (U) A. As yet, the GOB has not identified any assets
within Botswana subject to freezing, forfeiture or seizure
pursuant to UNSC Resolutions 1267 and 1373.


3. (C) B. The GOB lacks coherent and comprehensive AML-CTF
legislation, a fully fledged financial intelligence unit, and
personnel sufficiently trained in investigating international
transactions. Until recently, the GOB lacked a single body
to coordinate counter-terrorism issues among all agencies.
In late 2004, the GOB began the process of establishing such
an overarching committee. This committee, chaired by the
Permanent Secretary to the President, will include
sub-committees on topics such as money laundering. Once
fully functional, this committee should help focus attention
on counter-terrorism and facilitate enhanced interaction with
the GOB on this subject.


4. (U) C. The GOB has requested technical assistance from
Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) to combat
money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It
specifically asked for help in assessing the possibilities
for consolidating the existing legislation relevant to
AML-CTF into one comprehensive bill, conducting a feasibility
study for establishing a fully fledged financial intelligence
unit, and providing capacity building, such as training in
the investigation of international financial transactions. A
team from OTA (Enforcement) plans to visit Botswana March
20-25 to consult with stakeholders on possibilities for
initiating such assistance.


5. (U) D. Currently, Botswana is at low risk for use as a
site for significant fund raising or banking services. The
population sympathetic to Al Qa'ida/Usama bin Laden/Taliban
is negligible. The international financial services sector
in Botswana is only beginning to emerge. Given Botswana's
slim population and small economy, raising or moving
significant amounts of money without attracting attention
would be difficult.
HUGGINS