SENEGAL'S BOAT PEOPLE: MORE ORGANIZED AND HEADING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001588 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, DRL/PHD, G/TIP AND AF/RSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2011 TAGS: PHUM SMIG SOCI ECON PREL KCRM CV SP SG SUBJECT: SENEGAL'S BOAT PEOPLE: MORE ORGANIZED AND HEADING TO AMERICA? REF: DAKAR 01516 (NOTAL) Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The saga of Senegal's "boat people" continues, with reports of involvement by organized crime. With Europe grappling with the problem and tightening borders, Senegalese are talking about boats now being built to carry migrants to the United States. END SUMMARY. ORGANIZED CRIME -------------- ¶2. (C) The head of RADDHO, a prominent local human rights organization, told us the immigration phenomenon started with one fishing boat which got lost and ended up on the Canary Islands. The discovery that fishing boats could be used to get to Europe, he said, sparked the first wave of attempts to migrate there illegally. Those haphazard attempts have evolved into what Amnesty International refers to as all-out trafficking. The local Amnesty office said trafficking in persons (TIP) now generates one-third as much as the income earned through drug trafficking. Amnesty, other NGOs, and the media have reported on a tight network of individuals in place to recruit passengers, build and equip boats, and pilot them. ¶3. (C) At a recent meeting in Dakar, the UN Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that 80 percent of illegal migration, including that emanating from Senegal, is organized. Although the GOS insists migration from Senegal is NOT organized, UNODC found an international dimension to the organized migration. Boats carrying illegal migrants now make en-route stops to refuel, re-supply, and allow migrants to work temporarily in underground markets to make enough money to continue the passage to the Canaries. UNODC says Cape Verde has a growing number of such persons on its territory. ¶4. (C) UNODC also described large ships traveling around the African coast and picking up would-be migrants along the way. In addition, there is the more recent trend of European fishing boats -- ironically, the same boats Senegalese accuse of over-fishing -- sitting at some distance from the coastline and taking on migrants brought out to them in "pirogues" (Senegalese fishing boats). The weekly "Le Temoin" reported many of these European fishing boats are, in fact, Spanish. Officials in the Canaries report new arrivals in extraordinarily good condition, underscoring the possibility that European vessels may be involved. ¶5. (C) UNODC pointed out that West African organized crime is very powerful but consists of shallow, shifting hierarchies. A group may organize one trip, then disperse indefinitely. It also mentioned the possibility that there is some corruption at very high levels, permitting migrant-carrying boats to come and go. On June 27, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos publicly said Madrid has demanded that sub-Saharan countries dismantle "the mafia and networks violating the law." SENEGAL'S HALF-HEARTED RESPONSE -------------- ¶6. (C) Senegalese, however, are starting to hold out illegal migration as a threat. One village chief in an isolated, inland area of Senegal told us, "If you want to stop our young people from jumping into boats, you'd better give us more aid." Having discussed the matter with GOS officials, UNODC feels Senegal confuses the issues of trafficking in persons and illegal immigration. One member of UNODC referred to use of the 2005 TIP law to prosecute illegal migrants and those organizing the trips as a prime example. UNODC and representatives of several European embassies argued the TIP law is insufficient to combat illegal immigration. They also reported Senegal's new National Emigration Office, touted by the Government as one way to address the problem, has not actually been set up. The GOS told UNODC it still needs to be put in place and equipped. ¶7. (C) The head of the local Amnesty office agreed the 2005 TIP law will not be effective, because smuggling has become so lucrative. He also argued the GOS would not really try to stop migration, since to do so would create a "bomb" ready to explode at any moment. Between 19 and 24 June, Senegal permitted the repatriation of 189 more of its citizens from the Canaries. The GOS agreed to the repatriations only under DAKAR 00001588 002 OF 002 condition of extreme discretion by the Spanish. Senegal also agreed to allow the Spanish to patrol its waters. This followed Spain's extension to Senegal of a line of credit amounting to USD 26 million. WHERE TO NOW? -------------- ¶8. (C) Meanwhile, people continue to make the dangerous journey. The head of RADDHO told us, last week, that he went to a Dakar restaurant where a waiter had just called to say he arrived in the Canaries safely after his illicit voyage. One newspaper reported that 292 new arrivals landed in the Islands between June 26-28. Amnesty International said one migrant told them 160 would-be passengers fought for space two and one-half hours before leaving Senegal, because their boat held only 80 people. The boat sprang a leak and had to return, but this migrant said he would try again. Local and French media say two "large" vessels are being built especially to take illegal migrants from Senegal to the U.S. Local daily "Walfadjri" called one the "Titanic" and said construction has been going on for a month under the watchful eye of the police. Meanwhile, a similar boat being built in a separate location is apparently on the verge of departure. RADDHO confirmed those reports. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) If it is true that migrants are shifting their focus to America, it would be one indication that this phenomenon has definitively entered the realm of organized crime. END COMMENT. JACOBS