Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA1745
2007-06-05 09:33:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

ETHIOPIA: TERRORIST THREATS AND PLACING THE ONLF

Tags:  PTER ASEC PREL ET 
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VZCZCXRO5425
PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #1745/01 1560933
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 050933Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6464
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001745 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR: D, P, M, DS, S/CT:B.PHIPPS, CA, INR, AF/EX AND
DS/IP/AF
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: TERRORIST THREATS AND PLACING THE ONLF
ON THE TERRORIST LIST

REF: A. ADDIS 1598

B. ADDIS 1497

C. ADDIS 1308

D. ADDIS ABABA 1165 (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASON: 1.4 (B),(D) AND (G
).

-------------------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------------------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001745

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR: D, P, M, DS, S/CT:B.PHIPPS, CA, INR, AF/EX AND
DS/IP/AF
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: TERRORIST THREATS AND PLACING THE ONLF
ON THE TERRORIST LIST

REF: A. ADDIS 1598

B. ADDIS 1497

C. ADDIS 1308

D. ADDIS ABABA 1165 (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASON: 1.4 (B),(D) AND (G
).

--------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------


1. (S/NF) Ethiopia's heightened security alerts in response
to the kidnappings of British Embassy staff and Ethiopian
guides by Afar rebels in February; the killings of Chinese
and Ethiopian oil workers by the Ogaden National Liberation
Front (ONLF) last month; and grenade attacks last week in
Jijiga, Deghabur and Fik by suspected ONLF affiliates, have
been accentuated by rumors of terrorist threats from Somalia
against Ethiopian targets. Police have increased patrols in
Addis Ababa and raised security at hotels and restaurants.
Of concern to the foreign and diplomatic communities has been
the recent violent tactics targeting Ethiopian public
gatherings and, more worrying, against projects to discourage
foreign investment, as demonstrated by the ONLF announcement
in London taking responsibility for the killings of the
Chinese and Ethiopian oil workers in the Ogaden (ref C).
Ethiopian officials have asked the USG why the ONLF has not
been placed on the terrorist list (i.e., either designated a
Foreign Terrorist Organization or included on the Terrorist
Exclusion List). Post seeks Department's guidance on how the
Department views the ONLF, and whether views are shifting on
the ONLF.


2. (S/NF) Further, in response to Post's Emergency Action
Committee meeting (ref A, para 11),with 400 dependents and
members of household, the Embassy strongly requested
Department support authorizing dependents to have radios, as
well as procurement of 100 to 200 additional radios to ensure
that dependents can access the Embassy's emergency radio net
in case of emergency. (Note: We understand radios will be
forthcoming, Post extends appreciation to DS and IM for their

support.) END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST.

--------------
ETHIOPIAN SECURITY RAISES ALERT
--------------


3. (S/NF) Ethiopia's security, from police patrols in the
capital and other towns, to deployment of troops and
additional police to the Somalia border area, has become
tighter since Ethiopian troops entered Somalia on December
22, 2006. But security threats began much earlier. In the
summer of 2006, according to NGOs, the ONLF began targeting
foreigners in the Ogaden area (Ethiopia's Somali Region),
taking their vehicles, money, and extra clothes. There were
reports of religious friction in a country where there is a
high level of religious tolerance. The killings of
Christians in Jimma, with videotapes of the killings
distributed to raise Christian-Muslim friction, attracted
particular concern from the government, and was one reason
for the entry into Somalia to fight extremist elements.


4. (S/NF) The kidnapping of five British Embassy staff and
eight Ethiopian guides by Afar rebels along the Eritrea
border in February sparked concern that Eritrea was behind
the kidnappings. Eritrea already supports and helps provide
military training for some 30 opposition groups, many
targeting Ethiopia. Many of the rebel groups (like the ONLF)
which have adopted violent tactics against Ethiopian targets,
have been trained in Eritrea.


5. (S/NF) The ONLF killings of seven Chinese and over sixty
Ethiopian oil workers and security people last month in the
Ogaden area (ref C) marked a new and more violent tactic by
the ONLF which now targeted foreigners as well as foreign
projects to discourage foreign investment. The ONLF
spokesperson in London claimed responsibility for the

ADDIS ABAB 00001745 002 OF 003


killings.


6. (S/NF) The grenade attack killing at least four and
wounding scores of other civilians and Ethiopian officials in
gatherings in Jijiga, Deghabur, and Fik in the Oromo/Ogaden
area by those suspected to be aligned to the ONLF, marks yet
another violent tactic by rebel and other groups against
Ethiopia. The indiscriminate killing of innocent bystanders
in gatherings has raised the specter that future public
gatherings of any kind will attract potential terrorist
attacks. The upcoming Ethiopian Millennium activities on
September 11/12 will attract thousands of foreigners, mostly
Ethiopians from the diaspora, and huge crowds in Addis Ababa.
Security protection will be impossible and the Millennium
celebrations could potentially be targeted by extremist
groups, such as the ONLF.


7. (S/NF) The GOE's heightened security alert has led to more
arrests and other consequences. A USG contractor with our
U.S. Central Command Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
(CJTF-HOA) force protection team was detained for being in
the Ogaden area. While two U.S. soldiers were immediately
released, the Amcit DOD-contractor (who was born in Ethiopia
and currently has family members in the Ogaden) remains
detained under suspicion of assisting ONLF extremists. Three
New York Times reporters were temporarily detained after
meeting and interviewing some ONLF members in the Ogaden.


8. (S/NF) There continue to be rumors of possible terrorist
attacks from Somalia-based groups. The Ethiopian Government
has become particularly concerned that groups like the ONLF
have not been placed on USG terrorist lists, despite their
claims of responsibility for the killing of foreigners and
civilians. The Ethiopians are also concerned about Eritrea
and its continued military training of the ONLF and other
rebel groups. Also, it regularly hosts former Islamic Court
officials, some of whom are extremists. Ethiopian officials
are perplexed as to why Eritrea has not been condemned by the
international community for arms shipment to Somalia,
according to UN reports, and military training of the ONLF
and other groups engaged in violent tactics against Ethiopia.


9. (U) Post notes that while Africa-based groups such as
Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA),South Africa's PAGAD,
Congo's ALIR/ex-FAR, and Somalia's Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
(AIAI) have not been designated by the USG as "Foreign
Terrorist Organizations," they are listed on the USG's
December 2004 Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL). Criteria for
inclusion on the TEL include, inter alia: committing or
inciting to commit, under circumstances indicating an
intention to cause death or serious bodily injury, a
terrorist activity; preparing or planning a terrorist
activity; gathering information on potential targets for
terrorist activity; or providing material support to further
terrorist activity. Currently, neither the ONLF nor
Ethiopia's Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) appear on either USG
list.

--------------
EMBASSY SECURITY POSTURE
--------------


10. (S/NF) We see the security threats in Ethiopia primarily
in Ethiopia's Somali Region, in the Ogaden along the border
with Somalia. We have placed this region off-limits in our
warden messages and Department-approved travel advisories.
We are holding more frequent Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
meetings, as well as more open country team meetings with
Embassy staff and families on security. We are holding our
second American community meeting next week to discuss their
security concerns. We remain in close contact with the
police and security services, but have not received specific
threat information that would require a change in our current
security procedures for the Embassy, residential units, or
public announcements.


11. (S/NF) A primary security request from the EAC members
and families has been the need for quick communications.

ADDIS ABAB 00001745 003 OF 003


During the November 2005 post-election riots cell phones were
down, and communications with family members in town was
impossible. Fortunately, no Embassy personnel was injured
during the riots which took the lives of 197 people. The one
major security enhancement would be the procurement of
additional radios. Some 100 to 200 would be required to
cover for the nearly 400 dependents and members of household
at the Mission.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


12. (S/NF) Until we see more specificity in the threats, we
do not see any reason for a country-specific travel warning
for Ethiopia, which is already under a regional travel
warning for East Africa. We continue to monitor the current
security situation on a daily basis. This message was to
review security concerns raised by the Ethiopians and the
Mission, actions being taken, and potential challenges for
the future, especially the Millennium celebration activities
in September; as well as to draw the Department's attention
to concerns by post management about addressing potential
Post security concerns and also the need to respond to the
Ethiopian government about our posture towards the ONLF. END
COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO