Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANJUL281
2007-06-02 12:31:00
SECRET
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:  

THE GAMBIA: MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV MASS GA IR SG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3963
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0281 1531231
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 021231Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7550
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2//
S E C R E T BANJUL 000281 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC, DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS GA IR SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAN

REF: A. DAKAR 1144 (NOTAL)

B. BANJUL 197 ET AL

C. DAKAR/DAO MSG IIR 6 886 0045 07

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN?
---------------------

S E C R E T BANJUL 000281

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC, DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS GA IR SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: MILITARY COOPERATION WITH IRAN

REF: A. DAKAR 1144 (NOTAL)

B. BANJUL 197 ET AL

C. DAKAR/DAO MSG IIR 6 886 0045 07

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN?
--------------


1. (S) We note, per ref a, indication from GOS that Iran has
agreed to supply arms to the GOTG. We also note previous
reporting in other USG channels of possible Iranian weapons
deliveries here. While Gambian officials deny any weapons
deal with the Iranians, a well-informed journalistic source
told us that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, during his
December 2006 trip to Iran, visited arms factories. This
source concluded that Jammeh "likely" reached some sort of an
agreement with the Iranians on military cooperation involving
arms as well as training, but had no specifics and could not
confirm Iranian arms deliveries to The Gambia.

MILITARY TRAINING
--------------


2. (S) Our source did confirm that Iranian military advisers
-- he estimated their number at 15 -- continued to train
Gambian forces near President Jammeh's home village of
Kanilai (see ref b for previous reporting). He went on to
corroborate a recent report in a foreign-based online
"journal" (reported in ref c) that the Iranians were not
providing standard military training, but rather were
focussing on such areas as commando operations and
counter-insurgency warfare. The source added that those
receiving the training were elements of a special militia
unit established by Jammeh and included some Senegalese
personnel from the Casamance.

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


3. (S) Little is known about the Presidential militia force
at Kanilai, but we find credible the reports of its expansion
in past months -- following the abortive coup plot here in
March 2006 -- and of Jammeh turning to the Iranians to
provide it with special forces-type training, and possibly
weapons. In addition, like the GOS, we do not rule out the
possibility of Jammeh channelling Iranian-supplied weaponry
to hard-line Casamance rebel elements opposed to peace
efforts. END COMMENT
STAFFORD