Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COTONOU1168
2006-11-29 13:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN BORDER ARREST OF TWO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
how-toVZCZCXRO1443 PP RUEHGI DE RUEHCO #1168 3331326 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291326Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9043 INFO RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 0007 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0120 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0052 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0009
UNCLAS COTONOU 001168
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Dept for AF/W D BANKS, AF/C, AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC CT BN
SUBJECT: BENIN BORDER ARREST OF TWO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
NATIONALS
UNCLAS COTONOU 001168
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Dept for AF/W D BANKS, AF/C, AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC CT BN
SUBJECT: BENIN BORDER ARREST OF TWO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
NATIONALS
1. (U) On November 27, Beninese media reported the recent arrest by
Beninese Customs of two Central African Republic nationals at the
Benin/TOGO border. According to the media reports, Michel Djotodia
and Abakar Sabone are reportedly wanted for their role in an
attempted coup in the Central African Republic (CAR) earlier this
year and continued rebel activity. The reports state that Interpol
Bangui had alerted Beninese Customs officials that the two had been
staying in Benin for approximately six months.
2. (U) Apparently the two men had traveled to TOGO two months ago,
because they had been told that Interpol had developed information
on their presence in Benin. Thinking that the situation had calmed
down in Benin, the two attempted to cross back into Benin sometime
last week at which time they were captured by Beninese authorities.
The media further reported that officials from the Central African
Republic have been in contact with Benin in efforts to extradite the
two back to the CAR. Reuters reports that the CAR rebels have
threatened a new offensive within the CAR if the two are not
released.
3. (SBU) Police contacts have advised the Regional Security Office
that the two men were brought before a Prosecutor in Cotonou on
November 24, and the Prosecutor ordered them to be held in jail. A
Central African colleague of the Beninese Prosecutor is traveling
from Bangui to Benin to arrange for the two men to be extradited
back to the Central African Republic.
BROWN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
Dept for AF/W D BANKS, AF/C, AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ASEC CT BN
SUBJECT: BENIN BORDER ARREST OF TWO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
NATIONALS
1. (U) On November 27, Beninese media reported the recent arrest by
Beninese Customs of two Central African Republic nationals at the
Benin/TOGO border. According to the media reports, Michel Djotodia
and Abakar Sabone are reportedly wanted for their role in an
attempted coup in the Central African Republic (CAR) earlier this
year and continued rebel activity. The reports state that Interpol
Bangui had alerted Beninese Customs officials that the two had been
staying in Benin for approximately six months.
2. (U) Apparently the two men had traveled to TOGO two months ago,
because they had been told that Interpol had developed information
on their presence in Benin. Thinking that the situation had calmed
down in Benin, the two attempted to cross back into Benin sometime
last week at which time they were captured by Beninese authorities.
The media further reported that officials from the Central African
Republic have been in contact with Benin in efforts to extradite the
two back to the CAR. Reuters reports that the CAR rebels have
threatened a new offensive within the CAR if the two are not
released.
3. (SBU) Police contacts have advised the Regional Security Office
that the two men were brought before a Prosecutor in Cotonou on
November 24, and the Prosecutor ordered them to be held in jail. A
Central African colleague of the Beninese Prosecutor is traveling
from Bangui to Benin to arrange for the two men to be extradited
back to the Central African Republic.
BROWN