THE GAMBIA: SHAKING UP THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000779

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS RAO, ODC, AND DAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: SHAKING UP THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY

REF: BANJUL 712 ET AL (NOTAL)

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

HOUSE CLEANING BY NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL
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1. (C) Reftel reported the November appointment of Pa Jallow
as Director General of the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA),which had been in turmoil since the abortive coup plot
here in March and the resulting detention of then-Director
General Daba Marena. (NOTE: The GOTG subsequently claimed
that Marena had escaped from custody; his whereabouts remain
unknown, amidst belief in some quarters that he was secretly
executed. END NOTE) Jallow, who most recently served as High
Commissioner (Ambassador) to Nigeria but has previous NIA
service, wasted no time in taking charge, as he promptly
dismissed 34 NIA officials for poor performance. Our sources
indicate that further dismissals may well be in the offing as
Jallow continues his review of NIA operations.

RELEASE OF DETAINEES
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2. (C) Jallow's initial acts also include the recent release
of 24 detainees, an initiative that NIA sources portrayed to
the media as part of his effort to improve the NIA's standing
with the public. A reliable journalistic source stated that
none of those released were suspected of involvement in the
abortive coup plot or other "political crimes," describing
them as "ordinary citizens" picked up for "illegal forestry
practices," such as poaching and unauthorized cutting of
trees for firewood. He added that some of the 24 had been
held without charge for several months or longer -- far
beyond the legal limit of 72 hours. Several contacts, noting
Jallow's reputation for professionalism and respect for the
law, expressed hope to us that he will work to curtail
authorities' all-too-frequent practice of prolonged detention
without charge.

COMMENT
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3. (C) Whatever the new NIA head's interest in enhancing the
NIA's public standing and curtailing excessively lengthy
detentions, Jallow will doubtless be under heavy pressure
from President Jammeh to improve NIA's reporting to him on
possible dissidents, particularly in the military. We were
reliably told that it was Jammeh's dissatisfaction with the
NIA's performance on this score that led to the sacking of
Jallow's predecessor. And, as one source put it, "if Jallow
has to choose between keeping his job and upholding respect
for detainees' rights, he will be compelled to select the
former option." We plan to meet soon with Jallow and will
probe on his efforts to reform the NIA and its practices as
well as on another key bilateral concern -- the NIA's
cooperation on counterterrorism. END COMMENT.
STAFFORD