GOG CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AT THE AU SUMMIT

S E C R E T ACCRA 001438 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/ITA, INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017 TAGS: ASEC GH PINR PREL PTER SUBJECT: GOG CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AT THE AU SUMMIT Classified By: Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater for reasons 1.4 (d0 and (e). ¶1. (S) Summary: On June 27, the Ambassador met with Secretary to the President D.K. Osei at his urgent request, SIPDIS to discuss security concerns related to the African Union Summit. Hundreds of undocumented, armed individuals suspected to be Libyans have arrived at the airport. Osei was concerned that Moummar Qadaffi's imminent arrival in Ghana over land poses security challenges for Ghana. End summary. ¶2. (S) The GOG had detained over 200 suspected Libyans arriving at Accra's airport over the past two days without visas, passports or other documentation. These individuals were not on the flight manifests and came armed. The GOG has detained them, pending identification by Libya's National Security Coordinator. National Security Minister Francis Poku and the head of the Ghana Immigration Service have been sent to remain stationed at the airport to monitor the situation. According to Osei, President Kufuor had asked him to get involved because he did not think Poku was being tough enough on the Libyans. ¶3. (S) Libya was seeking to solicit former President J.J. Rawlings and NDC loyalists in planning a rally to attract 100,000 people, Osei said, adding that Libya did not seek permission from the GOG. He noted that Libyan President Moummar Qadaffi is expected soon in Ghana, traveling through Africa by road on his way to the African Union Summit in Accra, and he has requested a meeting with Kufuor immediately upon arrival. Libya's Ambassador to Ghana has gone to the border and Qadaffi is expected to arrive from Cote d'Ivoire in a convoy of 100 cars. ¶4. (S) The GOG plans to insert a security vehicle in every fifth car in Qadaffi's convoy and to refuse entry to anyone without proper documentation. The GOG is strengthening overall surveillance, doubling security for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and increasing security for South African President Mbeki (who will be housed adjacent to Qadaffi and has very different views on the future of the AU),according to Osei. ¶5. (S) Comment: The Ambassador promised to share this information within the USG and reinforced this promise in a subsequent phone conversation with President Kufuor. This is the first we have heard of serious security concerns surrounding the AU summit. Post has no information that the arrival of suspected Libyans represents a direct threat to U.S. interests. However, we will closely watch Libya's role and the overall security environment here over the next week and we would appreciate any other USG information there may be about this development. ¶6. (S) Comment Continued: The GOG has an Embassy in Libya, so arriving without proper documentation is understandably troubling. The GOG wants at all costs to avoid Middle East tensions being played out during the AU Summit. Qadaffi is seeking support for his pan-African vision of Africa and he will seek supporters from all sources. BRIDGEWATER