THE GAMBIA: DISMISSAL OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000698

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS RAO, ODC, AND DAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: DISMISSAL OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY HEAD

REF: BANJUL 691 ET AL

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SACKED
--------------


1. (U) On November 10, the GOTG announced the dismissal of
the National Intelligence Agency's (NIA) head, Director
General Harry Sambou, who had been appointed following the
failed coup plot here in March. Sambou's deputy, Momodou
Hydara, was named Acting Director General.


2. (C) The GOTG gave no reason for Sambou's removal, but the
well-informed Chief Editor at the independent daily, "Point,"
and Embassy contact, Pap Saine (protect),told Ambassador
that President Jammeh had ordered Sambou's removal for two
reasons. Firstly, according to Saine's sources at the
Presidency, Jammeh was upset at the NIA's failure to identify
the authors of a tract, "Voice of the Voiceless," circulating
clandestinely in the Banjul area. Saine said he himself had
not been aware of such a tract and had no further details on
its content. (COMMENT: This is also the first we have heard
of this tract. END COMMENT) Secondly, Jammeh was reportedly
dissatisfied with what he viewed as the NIA's indequate
monitoring of rumored discontent within the Gambian armed
forces, fearing that yet another coup plot might be brewing
under the NIA's nose.

COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) Sambou's removal highlights Jammeh's penchant for
abrupt high-level personnel changes, as does his October
cabinet reshuffle (reftel). We find plausible the reasons
advanced by Saine for Sambou's dismissal, which underscores
the disarray at the NIA since the coup plot foiled in March.
Sambou was widely regarded as a mediocre performer, lacking
the influence and leadership skills of his predecessor, Daba
Marena, who was detained with various other NIA officials
after the foiled overthrow plot, and subsequently escaped,
according to the GOTG -- although his whereabouts remain
unknown, and many believe that he was secretly executed.


4. (C) Despite Sambou's mediocrity, he maintained the
counter-terrorism (CT) related cooperation with the U.S. that
predecessor Marena had promoted. At this point, we have no
reason to believe that Sambou's departure signals an
intention by Jammeh to curtail our CT cooperation, but the
actions of Sambou's successor in this regard warrant close
monitoring. We will seek an early meeting with the new NIA
head. END COMMENT
STAFFORD