Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NIAMEY1444
2007-12-10 14:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
BUS HITS MINE IN THE SOUTH, PROMINENT TUAREGS
how-toVZCZCXRO7938 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #1444 3441455 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101455Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3954 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0623 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 001444
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM NG
SUBJECT: BUS HITS MINE IN THE SOUTH, PROMINENT TUAREGS
KILLED IN THE NORTH
REF: (A) NIAMEY 1418 (B) NIAMEY 1404
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
-------------------------
Bus blown up in the south
-------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 001444
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM NG
SUBJECT: BUS HITS MINE IN THE SOUTH, PROMINENT TUAREGS
KILLED IN THE NORTH
REF: (A) NIAMEY 1418 (B) NIAMEY 1404
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
--------------
Bus blown up in the south
--------------
1. (C) A bus hit a landmine near the southern city of Maradi
the morning of December 10. It reportedly left a one meter
deep crater in the dirt road. The governor of the region
told the Ambassador that it occurred 50 meters outside of
town on the road to Dakoro. He said six people were injured,
one critically, two seriously, and three slightly. Other
reports have three dead. The governor said that there were
motorcycle tracks near where the mine went off. He said he
did not know who was responsible for laying the mine. Police
sources also refrain from speculating who was responsible,
but other security forces have privately said it was the MNJ.
We had heard that the authorities in Maradi had been
planning to hold a rally regarding the situation in the north
on December 10.
2. (U) Embassy Emergency Action Committee has met to review
security procedures in light of the above. Results of that
meeting will be reported septel.
3. (C) Comment: While the MNJ has threatened to attack
targets in the south, it had not clearly done so. (The
Foreign Minister has admitted that the MNJ was probably not
responsible for the landmine incident at the Dosso fuel
storage facility that the GON initially attributed to the MNJ
-- reftels.) If the Maradi incident was the work of the MNJ,
it would represent a significant change in its area of
operations, which might be an attempt to force the GON to
redeploy forces from the north to protect the south. If it
was not the work of the MNJ, it raises troubling questions
about who else may be laying mines.
--------------
Prominent Tuaregs killed in the north
--------------
4. (U) The MNJ website on December 9 claimed that the
Nigerien security services killed three civilians around
10:00 p.m. that day on the way from Dirkou to Agadez. The
men were identified as being with the Rharous mineral water
company. They were reportedly killed some 200 km east of
Agadez on a detour off the Dirkou/Agadez road. The bodies
are reportedly being brought to Agadez. Security force
contacts report that the security forces killed the men
accidentally. They had warned the men not to travel in the
area where they were, and when the security forces ran across
them later they thought the men were MNJ fighters.
5. (C) Comment: This incident will generate more attention
than other cases of alleged extrajudicial killings because
the men killed were prominent Tuareg businessmen. It remains
to be seen whether the GON will publicly admit to killing the
Tuaregs.
ALLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INR/AA AND DS/ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM NG
SUBJECT: BUS HITS MINE IN THE SOUTH, PROMINENT TUAREGS
KILLED IN THE NORTH
REF: (A) NIAMEY 1418 (B) NIAMEY 1404
Classified By: Donald W. Koran, DCM, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
--------------
Bus blown up in the south
--------------
1. (C) A bus hit a landmine near the southern city of Maradi
the morning of December 10. It reportedly left a one meter
deep crater in the dirt road. The governor of the region
told the Ambassador that it occurred 50 meters outside of
town on the road to Dakoro. He said six people were injured,
one critically, two seriously, and three slightly. Other
reports have three dead. The governor said that there were
motorcycle tracks near where the mine went off. He said he
did not know who was responsible for laying the mine. Police
sources also refrain from speculating who was responsible,
but other security forces have privately said it was the MNJ.
We had heard that the authorities in Maradi had been
planning to hold a rally regarding the situation in the north
on December 10.
2. (U) Embassy Emergency Action Committee has met to review
security procedures in light of the above. Results of that
meeting will be reported septel.
3. (C) Comment: While the MNJ has threatened to attack
targets in the south, it had not clearly done so. (The
Foreign Minister has admitted that the MNJ was probably not
responsible for the landmine incident at the Dosso fuel
storage facility that the GON initially attributed to the MNJ
-- reftels.) If the Maradi incident was the work of the MNJ,
it would represent a significant change in its area of
operations, which might be an attempt to force the GON to
redeploy forces from the north to protect the south. If it
was not the work of the MNJ, it raises troubling questions
about who else may be laying mines.
--------------
Prominent Tuaregs killed in the north
--------------
4. (U) The MNJ website on December 9 claimed that the
Nigerien security services killed three civilians around
10:00 p.m. that day on the way from Dirkou to Agadez. The
men were identified as being with the Rharous mineral water
company. They were reportedly killed some 200 km east of
Agadez on a detour off the Dirkou/Agadez road. The bodies
are reportedly being brought to Agadez. Security force
contacts report that the security forces killed the men
accidentally. They had warned the men not to travel in the
area where they were, and when the security forces ran across
them later they thought the men were MNJ fighters.
5. (C) Comment: This incident will generate more attention
than other cases of alleged extrajudicial killings because
the men killed were prominent Tuareg businessmen. It remains
to be seen whether the GON will publicly admit to killing the
Tuaregs.
ALLEN