GSE RELEASES DETAINED UN STAFF TO UNMEE CUSTODY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000814 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2016 TAGS: PGOV KPKO PHUM PINR UNSC ER SUBJECT: GSE RELEASES DETAINED UN STAFF TO UNMEE CUSTODY REF: A) ASMARA 755 B)IIR 6 908 0476 06 C) IIR 6 908 0466 06 Classified By: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On October 4, the GSE released the UN Volunteer(UNV), held since August 28, to United Missions in Eritrea and Ethiopia(UNMEE) security officers. At this time, UNMEE is conducting its own investigation into the allegations of human smuggling. At an UNMEE briefing for diplomatic heads of mission on October 5, UNMEE Special Representative Azouz Ennifar said that while the investigation is not yet complete, the Eritrean allegations of human smuggling appear to be true. An UNMEE official subsequently shared with Poloff that the accused Congolese national UNV would most likely be returned home and the case handled by local authorities there. ¶2. (U) During the nearly six weeks of the UNV,s detention, the GSE refused permission to UNMEE officials to visit him. Over the detention period, the UNV appeared in at least two interviews on Eritrean television, in which he admitted to smuggling Eritreans across the border. (Ref A) During these interviews, he named other UNMEE staff, including two Eritrean nationals, who he claimed were also involved. Post believes that the Eritrean nationals continue to be detained by the GSE. ¶3. (C) Comment: The inability of UNMEE to visit the UNV while he was detained highlights the GSE,s continued disregard for international conventions and protocols. Whatever the results of UNMEE,s investigation, post will not be surprised if the GSE publicly trots out this incident at some future date to illustrate UNMEE shortcomings. End Comment. DELISI