REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR GAMBIAN REFUGEE KHALIFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 002926 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PRM/A, DRL/AE AND AF/W ACCRA FOR REGIONA REFCOORD E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2016 TAGS: PREF PHUM GA SG SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR GAMBIAN REFUGEE KHALIFA BAJINKA REF: DAKAR 02091 (NOTAL) Classified By: DCM Robert P. Jackson for reason 1.4 (b). SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶1. (C) Embassy Dakar requests authorization for a refugee referral to the U.S. resettlement program on behalf of Gambian refugee Major Khalifa Bajinka, his wife and three children. Bajinka took refuge in Dakar in late July 2006 and has been living in hiding here since his departure from The Gambia. Bajinka,s wife and children remain in Banjul and are reportedly required to report weekly to Gambian authorities. Bajinka has presented evidence of persecution, which has been supported by Gambian newspaper articles and other Gambian refugees (Reftel),based on his position as former Commander of the Presidential Guard in The Gambia from March 2004 - June 2005 and his former posting as a staff officer in the Office of the President from August 2003 ) March 2004. Despite the fact that Bajinka was in Nigeria from July 2005 ) July 2006, Gambian President Jammeh accused Bajinka of being complicit in the failed March 2006 coup attempt and tried to have him extradited from Nigeria. The Nigerian government refused, and Bajinka completed his one-year training program. In July 2006, Bajinka returned to The Gambia after receiving marginal assurances that Jammeh,s concerns had passed. However, shortly after Bajinka,s arrival, Jammeh sent armed men to arrest Bajinka at his residence. Bajinka resisted the arrest attempt and, after informing Gambian authorities by telephone that he would turn himself in, fled by foot to the Senegalese border. After traveling to Dakar via bus, Bajinka has been staying with a Senegalese friend in Dakar and maintains a low profile to ensure that his location is not discovered by Senegalese authorities. Bajinka has unconfirmed information that the Gambian government has officially asked for his extradition. Due to his former position, Bajinka has knowledge of Jammeh,s nefarious activities, which he believes is the reason that Jammeh wants him imprisoned. Bajinka denies any complicity in the coup attempt and believes that he would be tortured, and possibly executed, if returned to The Gambia. Since arriving in Dakar, Bajinka has learned from various contacts and friends in The Gambia that Jammeh is still interested in locating him and bringing him back to The Gambia. As he is extremely concerned for his well-being and the safety of his family, post considers his life to be in immediate danger. END SUMMARY and ACTION REQUEST. POST,S REFERRAL -------------- ¶2. (C) Post refers Khalifa Bajinka (DPOB: 04 DEC 1969, Brikina Town, The Gambia) for refugee status. Bajinka is currently in refuge in Dakar, and his family is currently in Banjul. His family members, names and DPOBs are: -- Spouse: Fatou Dibba Bajinka (DPOB: 06 June 1970, The Gambia) -- Daughter: Aminata Tuti Bajinka (DPOB: 15 November 1996, Banjul, The Gambia) -- Daughter: Awa Bajinka (DPOB: 07 September 2000, Banjul, The Gambia) -- Son: Muhammed Lamin Bajinka (DPOB: 15 September 2003, Atlanta, GA) Bajinka,s son Muhammed is an American citizen who was born in Atlanta while Bajinka,s wife was working in the United States. Bajinka,s wife is an employee of Gambian Airlines. ¶3. (C) Bajinka, a Major in the Gambian Army, has a high school education (GCE ordinary level),but due to a high aptitude score on a military examination, was placed in the officer corps upon entering the army in 1993. Since this time, Bajinka has studied and earned military degrees or college credit at several universities around the world. Specifically, Bajinka attended the Fuh Sing Kang College in Taipei, Taiwan in 1997 and earned a Diploma in Administration. Additionally, Bajinka attended the Senior Staff Military Course at Ahmed Bello University in Nigeria in 2005-2006, earning a diploma in management. Finally, Bajinka completed the Basic Officer Course in Turkey in 1992-1993. Despite his limited education, Bajinka is well-spoken, appears intelligent, and has a desire to earn his college degree. Bajinka speaks English, Turkish, Wolof, level 1 French, and reads Arabic. ¶4. (C) Bajinka first worked in close association with Jammeh from July 1994 ) June 1999, when he served as the Aide de Camp (ADC) to the Head of the State of The Gambia. Bajinka returned to the Presidential Palace as a Staff Officer in the Office of the President from August 2003 ) March 2004. During both of these tenures, Bajinka remained on good terms with Jammeh, as he was promoted to Commander of the Presidential Guard in March 2004. It was in this role as Commander that Bajinka fell out of favor with Jammeh. In early 2005, Bajinka learned that Jammeh was independently utilizing members of his Presidential Guard for arrests, torture, destruction of property, and intimidation of political rivals. Specifically, Jammeh created a small four-man team, composed of members of the Presidential Guard who were frequently ordered to carry-out nefarious tasks. When Bajinka learned of the unit,s activities, he ordered his men to stand-down on several Jammeh ordered operations, which led to his abrupt reassignment to Army Staff Headquarters in March 2005. When rumors persisted in July 2005 that Jammeh remained unhappy with Bajinka, Bajinka,s military commanders sent him to the Senior Staff Course in Nigeria from 2005-2006. ¶5. (C) During Bajinka,s deployment to Nigeria, in March 2006, there was a failed coup attempt in The Gambia led by Colonel Nuru Cham. After several officers were arrested, Bajinka received word from the Nigerian Government that Jammeh had asked for his extradition from Nigeria. Despite this request, the Nigerian Government refused, and Bajinka finished his studies in Nigeria. After the situation in The Gambia calmed slightly, Bajinka received vague assurances from military officers that Jammeh had seemingly lost interest. Despite this, the Nigerian Government and Bajinka,s close friends all warned him against returning. However, wishing to see his family and wanting to prove his innocence, Bajinka returned to The Gambia. Unlike his usual return from deployments, Bajinka was not officially met at the airport, and during his first night, two Gambian National Intelligence Agency officials came to Bajinka,s house requesting his cooperation in the investigation. When the officers tried to arrest him, Bajinka resisted and threatened that he would not go without a fight. When the two men departed to obtain reinforcements, Bajinka fled by foot to the Senegalese-Gambian border. After crossing the border, Bajinka took a bus to Dakar, where he found refuge with a friend. Bajinka later learned from family members and a former associate that armed men from Jammeh,s Presidential Guard returned to Bajinka,s house to arrest and likely imprison him. After Bajinka,s departure, Bajinka,s wife and brothers were arrested and placed in prison for several weeks. Although all were released in mid-August 2006, as of late November 2006, they are still required to report on a regular basis to NIA Headquarters in Banjul. ¶6. (C) Bajinka believes that Jammeh,s attempts to arrest him are based on his knowledge of Jammeh,s nefarious activities during his time on the President,s staff and as Commander of the Presidential Guard. Bajinka knew that Jammeh ordered the arrest, detention, and torture of numerous political rivals. Bajinka does not know how or why he was implicated in the failed coup attempt, but believes that Jammeh was already contemplating arresting him before his deployment to Nigeria in July 2005. ¶7. (C) Since taking refuge in Dakar, Bajinka has maintained a low profile and has not made his presence known to the Senegalese government, primarily because he believes that Jammeh has asked for his extradition. Bajinka is sure that he would be imprisoned and likely executed if he returns to The Gambia, particularly because he has been accused of treason and has received positive press from various foreign newspapers. (For example, his story was widely distributed among oppositionist newspapers, which used Bajinka,s plight as an example of Jammeh,s suppression of individual freedoms). Bajinka has also heard rumors that Gambian officials are secretly attempting to locate his whereabouts in Dakar, and because of this, does not frequently venture away from his temporary residence in Dakar. Although Bajinka has received some money from family, he has no steady income and is being supported primarily by his friend,s family in Dakar. Bajinka has resisted registering with refugee agencies in Dakar out of fear for alerting the Senegalese authorities and ultimately the Gambian Government to his presence. ¶8. (C) Bajinka,s family remains in Banjul but is forced to report weekly to Gambian officials. Bajinka has not moved his family to Dakar, primarily because he cannot support them and because he is not sure he could ensure their safety over a period of several months. Additionally, Bajinka,s wife has been able to keep her job at Gambian Airways, which provides a source of income, and his children, who do not speak French, would be hampered in school due to the language barrier. If granted refugee status, Bajinka is prepared to move his family to Dakar, and believes he could do so on two days notice. He talks regularly, but infrequently with his family, and they are aware of his request for refugee status. Bajinka would prefer to wait until receiving assurance that the process is moving forward before deciding to bring his family to Dakar. ¶9. (C) Post has corroborated Bajinka,s story with Embassy Banjul, which noted that Bajinka has been well and favorably known to the current and previous U.S. embassy staff for many years. In addition, other Gambian officials resident in Dakar, who have not been accused of treason, have also reported threats against them. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶10. (C) PRM,s urgent consideration of this request is greatly appreciated since Bajinka and his family,s lives are in immediate danger. END ACTION REQUEST. JACOBS