ISRAELI MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001292 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018 TAGS: MOPS MCAP MARR MASS PGOV PINR PINS IS NI SUBJECT: ISRAELI MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 1, 2008, Poloff and Air Attache visited Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Moshe Ram to discuss Israeli military assistance to Nigeria. Ram said there was no bilateral agreement between the two nations, but private Israeli security companies were indeed involved in Nigeria, and that he was "not eager to know" the details of their activities. Post will continue to seek more information on this issue, particularly in regards to the Niger Delta. END SUMMARY. -------------- DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL -------------- ¶2. (C) In Poloff's and Air Attache's July 1 visit with Israeli Ambassador Moshe Ram, Ram said there was no bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Israel covering military cooperation between the two countries. He added, however, that there was "a lot of competition among Israeli companies" to provide the GON services on a private basis, but that those companies typically do not seek out official GOI contact or assistance in Nigeria. These companies must be licensed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense in order to ensure proper control of weapons exports, he said, especially in light of past USG complaints about possible Israeli sales of sensitive weapons systems with US components to third parties without USG permission, but in general, Israel's Embassy is not involved and Ram is "not eager to know" any details. He said the Nigerian Ministry of Defense was "very well-connected" to the Israeli military apparatus, and that Nigerian military personnel travel frequently to Israel. He claimed that Israeli military officials could come to Nigeria without his knowledge, or that they might "disguise" the nature of their business in the country, even from him. He said he plays no role in any Israeli exports to Nigeria. ¶3. (C) The one Israeli company who presence Ram did admit knowing about was "Aeronautics," (NFI) and he said he knew they were providing security services in the Niger Delta, including communications and possibly pilotless drones. He did not mention if this assistance was being given to the GON, or to a private concern. He said had heard of others that provided services for oil companies, but did not know of specific names or details beyond the fact that they provided communications gear and unspecified equipment. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Post has been hearing about Israeli military and security consultants on the ground for some time. However, we doubt there is any large scale activity but will still monitor the issue. Post has heard very reliable reports of Israelis training Niger Delta-bound Nigerian special forces troops at Jaji, Kaduna State, and will also seek to further surmise how much they are directly involved. END COMMENT. SANDERS