GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO EXPELS LIBYAN AMBASSADOR

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000621 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR PINS OFDP LY LT SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO EXPELS LIBYAN AMBASSADOR REF: MASERU 545 AND PREVIOUS; MASERU 184 MASERU 00000621 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: W. Patrick Murphy, CDA, a.i., EXEC, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: W. Patrick Murphy, CDA, a.i., EXEC, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S) Summary: The GOL revoked the Libyan Ambassador's credentials o/a December 13 and ordered the envoy to depart Lesotho within 72 hours, apparently for "performing in a manner incompatible" with his duties. Embassy sources indicate that the GOL had become fed up with the Libyan's abusive behavior and disdain for GOL procedures and protocol. His expulsion, however, may be linked to allegations, previously raised with us by the Foreign Minister, that Libya has attempted to manipulate the GOL's political system, including the financing of political opposition leader Tom Thabane, a former member of the GOL cabinet. FM Moleleki has previously intimated that the GOL might pursue criminal charges against Thabane; the action taken against the Libyan envoy could be a precursor to potential legal action directed at the opposition leader. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) According to diplomatic and Foreign Ministry sources, the Government of Lesotho notified the Ambassador of Libya to Lesotho, Mohamed Algamudi, o/a December 13 that his credentials had been revoked and he had 72 hours to depart the country. ¶3. (C) Embassy sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PROTECT) told us early on December 13 that the GOL had become "fed up" with Algamudi's abuse of his local employees and his complete disregard for GOL procedures, protocol, and sundry official requests. Those same sources indicated that the MFA would soon declare Algamudi persona non grata and expel him from Lesotho. Diplomatic sources have also related that Algamudi may have been involved in abusive extra-marital affairs. ¶4. (U) Resident diplomatic chiefs of mission, UN agency representatives, and honorary consuls met on the evening of December 13 at a local Maseru restaurant for a monthly social gathering (note: the U.S. mission was represented by an Embassy officer). A seat reserved for Ambassador Algamudi, who is Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, remained vacant throughout the dinner. Halfway through the event, the South African High Commissioner, William Leslie (the likely new Dean),received a phone call from Algamudi. Leslie subsequently informed the gathering that Algamudi had just received notification from the MFA regarding his immediate expulsion "for performing in a manner incompatible with his duties." ¶5. (S) Although Algamudi appears to be rather mild-mannered, rumors have long indicated that he treats his local Basotho staff harshly and displays utter disdain for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Foreign Minister Moleleki. This will likely be the public version of his expulsion, which will no doubt make the press very soon. We suspect, however, that the GOL has PNG'd Algamudi on the basis of allegations of more sinister behavior. As recently as October, FM Moleleki reiterated to Ambassador Perry the longstanding GOL belief that Libya and its envoy have repeatedly attempted to manipulate the GOL political system (ref A). ¶6. (S) Moleleki has specifically accused Libya of financing former cabinet member Tom Thabane, who defected from the GOL in October and formed a new opposition party (ref A). Algamudi has been unapologetic about his close relationship with Thabane. FM Moleleki, in turn, claims that Algamudi and Thabane were involved in a January 2007 assassination attempt on the Foreign Minister (ref B). The Libyan envoy has frequently complained to Maseru-based diplomats that the GOL has refused for three years running to approve his application to open an Islamic school and cultural center in Lesotho. FM Moleleki has told Ambassador Perry that such permission would not be forthcoming, given his suspicions about nefarious Libyan activities and his concerns about terrorist activity carried out by Islamic groups worldwide (ref A). ¶7. (U) Bio Note: Ambassador Mohamed Algamudi (his official title is "Secretary of the People's Bureau of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya") has served in Lesotho since March 2003. He was scheduled to complete his tour within the next month or two, just shy of his fourth anniversary as Libyan Envoy. He has previously told U.S. diplomats that he intended to retire and return to Tripoli. Comment: First the Libyan, then the Opposition? ¶8. (S) The sudden expulsion of the Libyan Ambassador is clearly a serious diplomatic step, resulting from senior-level GOL deliberation which no doubt involved recognition that Libya might consider reciprocal action against Lesotho's diplomats in MASERU 00000621 002.2 OF 002 Tripoli. Of note, Foreign Minister Moleleki has been on travel for weeks in Asia and North America, with only a brief stop in Lesotho between trips. He is currently in Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with officials at the Millennium Challenge Corporation on December 14. While any specific facts regarding Libyan interference and financing of the opposition remain unknown to us, FM Moleleki has previously intimated to U.S. diplomats, while raising the Libyan allegations, that the GOL might pursue criminal charges against former minister Thabane. We don't rule out the possibility that the action taken against the Libyan envoy is a precursor to potential legal action against Thabane. End Comment. MURPHY