SOURCE INFO ON ALLEGED SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ERITREA

S E C R E T ASMARA 000776

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS
TERREP

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OFM, DS/ICI/PII,
DS/ICI/CI, AF/E, INR
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2032
TAGS: ASEC PTER PREL PGOV PINR ER
SUBJECT: SOURCE INFO ON ALLEGED SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ERITREA

Classified By: RSO SEAN MCCLANAHAN, FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: RSO met with Source on 10/1/2007 who
provided third-hand information on alleged Somali suicide
bombers present in Asmara. Source stated a group of young
Somalis who have been trained as suicide bombers, are
currently resident in Asmara. These Somalis allegedly plan
to infiltrate Ethiopia with the support of the Government of
the State of Eritrea (GSE) after the end of Ramadan. Source
stated the GSE feels Ethiopia will invade Eritrea in a matter
of weeks and the suicide bombers would be used to erode
Ethiopian support for their government. The GSE feels this
would prevent/delay any Ethiopian invasion of Eritrea and
could result in the Ethiopian Government withdrawing its
forces from Somalia. END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) RSO met with Source on 10/1/2007 who has a friendly
relationship with Tiagese Kiflezge, a junior desk officer in
the MFA's Americas division. The following information was
reported by Source from a 9/30/2007 conversation with
Kiflezge. Kiflezge claims he has good contacts within the GSE
ministries and is aware of sensitive GSE information because
he is a trusted worker. Post has been able to verify some of
Source's statements in the past but cannot corroborate this
report.


3. (S/NF) During a 9/30/2007 conversation, Source said
Kiflezge told him that there are approximately 25-50 Somalis
currently in Asmara who have been trained by the Iranian
Government to be suicide bombers. These Somalis had
allegedly arrived in Asmara at the same time as Somali
delegates to the "Reconciliation Congress" in September 2007.
Kiflezge told Source that after Ramadan ends in October
2007, these individuals will be smuggled into Ethiopia with
the assistance of the GSE and Ethiopian nationals from inside
Ethiopia (NFI). Once inside Ethiopia, the Somalis will
conduct suicide bomb attacks against Ethiopian hotels, bus
stations and government sites. Kiflezge added that the
Somalis were going to target the Ethiopian government as a
result of their military intervention in Somali and because
"Addis is the enemy of Muslims." (Note: Source said Kiflezge
made no mention of any threat to U.S. interests. End Note.)
Kiflezge also commented that the "suicide vests" which will
be used in the bombings were already in Asmara, but he did
not know their location. Source stated Kiflezge made no
mention of the exact date or route by which the Somalis would
enter Ethiopia nor provided any other information about these
suicide bombers.


4. (S/NF) RSO asked Source if he knew where the Somalis
were living. Source was unsure, but said many visiting
Somalis are living at four hotels in Asmara: The Imperial
Hotel (also known as the Ambasoira Hotel); the Hamasien
(located next door to the Imperial); the Savana Hotel and the
Salaam Hotel. RSO has taken GPS coordinates of these hotels
as follows: Imperial/Hamasien Hotels - N 15 degrees 19 968,
E 38 degrees 56 108; the Savana Hotel - N 15 degrees 19 783
E 38 degrees 55 782; and the Salaam Hotel - N 19 degrees 20
197 E 38 degrees 55 665. The Salaam Hotel is located next
door to the UK Embassy.


5. (S/NF) Kiflezge told Source that many of his colleagues in
the MFA and other agencies are afraid an Ethiopian invasion
of Eritrea is imminent and will happen in 2-3 weeks. He
stated that the GSE believes that incidents of suicide
bombing in Ethiopia would disrupt the government and possibly
prevent such an attack and/or serve as a catalyst to force
the Ethiopians from Somalia. Source told RSO he was afraid
to ask any additional questions for fear of arousing
Kiflezge's suspicions. During his interview with RSO, Source
appear shocked and troubled by this conversation as he stated
this proved Eritrea really was a "terrorist nation."


6. (S/NF) RSO Comment: Post has not heard even a hint of
rumor from other sources in-country of the possibility of
Somali suicide bombers being provided safehaven in Asmara.
We continue to have reservations about Kiflezge's access to
such type information, if true, and his apparent freedom in
sharing such sensitive information. Conversely, we do not
see a clear motivation for Kiflezge relaying this information
to Source if he did not believe it to be true. Post notes
there are still many Somalis in Asmara following the
conclusion of the Congress and POLOFF sources have stated
that at least 5 Shabaab members were present in Asmara during
the conference. Given consistent feedback from numerous
western and local sources that the GSE believes Ethiopia may
invade Eritrea in the coming weeks, we also cannot discount
the possibility of a GSE decision to use any means possible
to weaken the Meles government in anticipation of a military
conflict. End Comment.
MCINTYRE