THE GAMBIA: REPORT OF PRESIDENT'S MILITIA, IRANIAN

S E C R E T BANJUL 000764

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC,DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS MASS PREL GA IR
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: REPORT OF PRESIDENT'S MILITIA, IRANIAN
TIES

REF: A. BANJUL 744


B. 05 BANJUL 319

C. BANJUL 698 (ALL NOTAL)

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

JAMMEH BEEFS UP MILITIA
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1. (C) In recent conversation with Ambassador, Pap Saine
(protect) the well-connected chief editor of the private
daily, "The Point," asserted that, nine months after the
abortive coup plot in March, President Jammeh remained deeply
concerned about another possible plot. According to Saine,
Jammeh harbored doubts about the loyalty of some military
officers and as a result had recently beefed up what Saine
termed "Jammeh's secret militia." Saine asserted that this
force now numbered 3,000 men and was stationed in remote
areas surrounding Jammeh's native village of Kanilai, located
about 90 kilometers east of Banjul. Saine claimed that many
of these militiamen were of Senegalese origin, from the
Casamance region, and members of Jammeh's Jola tribe. He
asserted that maintaining this force was a major financial
burden for Jammeh and that there was resentment within the
regular armed forces over the resources allocated to the
militia.

SEEKING HELP FROM THE IRANIANS
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2. (S/NF) Saine went on to assert that Jammeh, during his
recent visit to Iran (ref a),had requested weaponry with an
eye to the militia's as well as the regular military's needs.
Saine did not know what specific weaponry Jammeh had sought
or the Iranians' response. (NOTE: We note that, according to
reporting in other channels, the Iranians agreed to supply
Jammeh with three electrical generators and 60,000-70,000
tons of oil. END NOTE)

COMMENT
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3. (C) We find plausible this and previous reports (e.g., ref
b) of a secret presidential militia (e.g. ref b),but we have
so far been unable to obtain concrete evidence of its
existence. It is remarkable that, if indeed the militia
exists as a structured, armed organization, such a
several-thousand strong force could remain so well hidden
from public view. Judging from Saine's account, the reported
militia is distinct from the pro-Jammeh vigilante force,
known as the "Green Boys," that the GOTG claims was
"demobilized" some years ago and now is simply a group of
activists with the ruling APRC party. The reported militia
is also distinct from the special military unit, the State
Guards, responsible for Jammeh's security at the presidential
compound in Banjul. Saine's assertion of Jammeh's concern
for renewed coup plotting squares with this source's previous
assertion to us (ref c) that former head of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA),Harry Sambou, was sacked in
November in part due to Jammeh's displeasure over lack of
reporting on possible anti-regime scheming in the military.
END COMMENT


STAFFORD