SENEGAL: GLOBAL PURSUIT OF TERRORIST INFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 002989 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR S/CT AND CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016 TAGS: PTER KVPR KHLS PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC SG SUBJECT: SENEGAL: GLOBAL PURSUIT OF TERRORIST INFORMATION EXCHANGE REF: STATE 190832 Classified By: Charge Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) The GOS provided the following responses to reftel queries: ¶A. (SBU) Immigration Databases: Question: What computerized immigration databases are used to track entries and exits? Answer: Currently, other than paper arrival and departure records, the Government of Senegal (GOS) uses only the USG-provided Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES). Funding will terminate for this program at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2007. Question: Is the immigration database available at all ports of entry (POEs)? Answer: No, only Dakar?s Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport and the Interpol national bureau have access to the PISCES program. Question: If immigration databases are available at some POEs, but not all, how does the host government decide which POEs will receive the tool? Answer: The airport was chosen because of the volume of foreign travelers transitting the facility. The Interpol national bureau is co-located with the Ministry of Interior's Judicial Police; it is responsible for consolidating and distributing weekly Stoplists. Question: What problems, if any, limit the effectiveness of the systems? For example, limited training, power brownouts, budgetary restraints, corruption, etc.? Answer: A lack of training, high turnover of GOS personnel, and frequent brownouts made sustained USG support critical to sustaining the PISCES program in Senegal. In FY 2006, a full-time contractor was hired to administer the program; provide training; monitor usage; and coordinate between Interpol and the airport to facilitate Stoplist distribution. While there were several incidents of server failure due to municipal electricity problems (resulting in maintenance team visits from CONUS),the system was useful to both the GOS and the embassy?s Visas Viper Committee. Post requested that the program be funded for all of FY 2007. Question: How often are national immigration databases updated? Answer: PISCES databases are updated daily as the travelers are entered into the system. Stoplists are updated weekly. ¶B. (SBU) Watchlist and Information Sharing: Question: Is there a name-based watchlist system used to screen travelers at POEs? Answer: Yes, other than PISCES, the GOS maintains National watchlists at each point of entry -- paper documents updated weekly, or as required, by the Ministry of Interior. Question: What domestic sources of information populate the name-based watchlist, i.e., names of deported persons, terrorist lookouts, criminal wants/warrants? Answer: Criminal and investigative records from the Ministry of the Interior are the primary domestic source of information. Names, dates of birth and passport numbers are the primary information found on the list. If the person has been placed on the list due to deportation or wants/warrants, the case number will be available. If the person was placed on the list for reasons such as terrorism, the name of the organization to which the person is allegedly affiliated will be found on the list. Question: What international watchlists do the host government use for screening individuals, e.g. Interpol or TSA No Flylists, UN, etc.? SIPDIS Answer: The GOS uses information gathered from Interpol, TSA, the United Nations, and other governments to populate SIPDIS the watchlist. Question: What bilateral/multilateral watchlist agreements exist between host government and its neighbors? Answer: Under Senegalese law, the General Director of National Police (DGSN) has authority to communicate with other countries to receive and send information. Senegal currently has no formal watchlist agreements with surrounding countries. The Interpol national bureau serves as a formal conduit for information sharing. ¶C. (SBU) Biometrics: Question: Are biometric systems in place at ports of entry (air,land, sea)? If no, does host government have plans to install such a system? If biometric systems are available at some POEs, but not all, how does the host government decide which POEs will receive the tool? Answer: No, the GOS has no biometric systems in place at ports of entry and has no plans at this time to install such a system. Question: What biometric technologies, if any, does the host government use, i.e. fingerprint identification, facial recognition, iris recognition, hand geometry, retinal identification, DNA-based identification, keystroke dynamics, gait analysis? Are the systems ICAO compliant? Answer: The GOS only uses fingerprints following an arrest or when making an application for passport. Question: Does the host government issue a machine- readable passport containing biometric information? If so, what biometric information is included on the document, i.e. fingerprint, iris, facial recognition, etc? If not, does host government plan to issue a biometric document in the future? When? Answer: No, the GOS does not issue a machine readable passport. Although it has made some effort to switch to machine readable, a timeline has yet to be established. ¶D. (C) Identifying Appropriate Partners: Based on post's experience with PISCES, the GOS would be a good partner in data sharing and would not use U.S. watchlist data inappropriately. Also, based on our experience with PISCES, any technology-based systems of sharing information would require a long-term commitment of USG support for maintenance and training. ¶2. (U) POC for this report is the Regional Security Office, U.S. Embassy Dakar, tel: (221) 823-4296, ext. ¶2312. JACKSON