MILITARY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST SOMALI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000792 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, PRM, AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2026 TAGS: PINS PREF MOPS PREL SMIG KCRM SENV SO MU SUBJECT: MILITARY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST SOMALI INFILTRATORS REF: MUSCAT 687 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A Grappo. Reason: 1.4 (a,b,d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Reflecting growing public concern over violent incidents involving infiltration by Somali and Yemeni illegal migrants across the Oman-Yemen border, the Omani army, air force, special forces and police have launched operations in Oman's southern Dhofar region that have reportedly already swept up 1,000 infiltrators. With the Sultan currently present in that region on vacation, Oman's top service chiefs have taken personal charge of the operations. While coverage of the ongoing operations is not permitted in the local press, the Omani public reaction to the government efforts has been overwhelmingly positive. End summary. -------------- Increasing Problems with Somali Infiltrators -------------- ¶2. (C) The Omani government is dramatically escalating its response to the problem of Somali and other illegal migrants infiltrating across the border with Yemen into Oman's southern Dhofar region (reftel). There are credible reports that a woman was shot dead by an infiltrator in early May near the Omani town of Rakhyut on the Yemen border after she reportedly refused to give him food and drink. Sources have reported an increase in the number of recently reported thefts and other crimes, including violent ones, related to the infiltrators, as well as general public shock over the Omani woman's murder. There are anecdotal reports that Dhofaris have even stayed home from work out of concern for defenseless family members. This strong public reaction, no doubt amplified by the Sultan's presence in Dhofar on vacation, has forced Omani security officials to step up efforts to tackle the problem. ¶3. (SBU) Contacts from a small village in Jebel Samhan east of Salalah have confirmed that the presence of the infiltrators has become increasingly aggravating since they have destroyed a number of frankincense trees, which are a major source of income for the people of the region and one of the Sultanate's cultural symbols. Sources have varied widely as to the exact number of African infiltrators (primarily Somalis but also including some Eritreans), ranging from about 300 to nearly 4,000. While some Somalis were reportedly initially hired by locals to help harvest frankincense, the migrants have now taken to the environmentally delicate business on their own. -------------- -------------- Military Efforts to Halt the Flow of Infiltrators -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The problem of Somali infiltration is not new; in 2004, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Criminal Investigations Department hoped to halt the flow of illegal migrants by establishing a series of identification checkpoints in the region. The security measures were effective in reducing the Somali presence in Salalah, though the problem persisted in the rural areas. The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) Border Security Command, which is leading the current military operations, is the agency primarily responsible for land border security along the Yemen frontier, but other military agencies have also been mobilized in an effort to respond more aggressively to the increased threat. ¶5. (C) The RAO has begun conducting broad, aggressive patrols in the border area and mounting various roadblocks and checkpoints. The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) is providing air support, mainly for transportation and logistics. Signifying the political importance of the operation, both the RAO and RAFO commanders are personally on the scene directing actions. The Sultan's Special Forces (SSF) is also conducting operations, but these are targeted at specific areas or groups deemed a threat. Military contacts have made it clear that the operation has become larger in scope and duration than they originally anticipated, but remain positive in their overall assessment of the operation's effectiveness. ¶6. (C) RAFO Commander Air Vice Marshall Yahya al-Jumaah has described the mission objective, in a May 16 meeting with USG officials, as establishing "a clear red line" to secure the region by pushing back and establishing control when the situation calls for it, while also stressing protection of human rights. Omani military officials have not been reluctant to take a hard approach when necessary. According to an Egyptian Embassy contact, the security operations in Dhofar have so far netted about 1,000 infiltrators, though there is no information on breakdown by citizenship. -------------- Omani Public Effusive With Praise -------------- ¶7. (SBU) With a prohibition on media coverage of the military operations, Internet message board Al-Sablah has become the most popular venue for public discussion on the matter. A special link on the message board has been created to cover the topic, though it too carries a warning that discussion on details of ongoing military operations is prohibited. A recent entry, quickly removed, claimed that there have been casualties among the military forces during the operation. The original link to the topic on the operation generated more than 33,770 hits and 245 responses overwhelmingly praising security officials for handling the situation. One entry claimed that the total number of infiltrators is between 2,000 and 4,000 and that some have automatic weapons. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (S) The Omani government is being typically mum in public on these operations, making a precise assessment on the true scope of the infiltrator problem difficult. In a call at the Palace Office two weeks ago, the Ambassador was told that the organization had been ordered by "the national leadership" to address the problem before it escalated. The fact that Oman's top military service chiefs are personally overseeing operations, and that nearly every branch of Oman's military and security services are joining the effort, further confirms that the operations are now a top national priority. GRAPPO