EMBASSY ADDIS ABABA EAC CONVENES TO REVIEW

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000929 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, DS AND CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2028 TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PGOV ET SUBJECT: EMBASSY ADDIS ABABA EAC CONVENES TO REVIEW SECURITY POSTURE REF: A. STATE 30472 ¶B. ADDIS ABABA 463 ¶C. 07 ADDIS ABABA 3183 Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) The Ambassador convened the Embassy Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on April 3 to review the Embassy's security posture following the March 18 designation of Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization FTO) (Ref A),Ethiopia's continued military involvement in Somalia, developments on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, and impending local elections in Ethiopia. The Ambassador highlighted Ethiopia's growing role as a regional hub for United States Government (USG) activities and said the mission's increased profile might bring increased security risks. Following a robust discussion of safety concerns posed by regional and internal dynamics, the EAC decided to adjust the Country Specific Information Sheet to discourage more strongly American citizens from travel near the Eritrean border and to advise them to avoid public demonstrations and crowds. The EAC also decided the Embassy will issue a Warden Message in advance of the April 13 and 20 local elections. End Summary. ¶2. (S) The Ambassador convened the EAC on April 3 to review the Embassy's security posture following the March 18 designation of Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization FTO) (Ref A) and Ethiopia's continued military involvement in Somalia, developments on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, and impending local elections in Ethiopia. DCM, POL/ECON, RSO, ORA, DAO, MGT, GSO, MED, CLO, USAU, CJTF-HOA and Peace Corps attended. Addis Ababa's Increased Footprint -------------- ¶3. (S) The Ambassador said that Embassy Addis Ababa risks being a focal point for discontent linked to Ethiopia's involvement in Somalia and Sudan, as well as for destabilizing actions by Eritrea and domestic Ethiopian insurgencies. Despite Ethiopia's rough neighborhood, the perception that Ethiopia (and Addis Ababa in particular) is relatively stable and safe has produced for Embassy Addis Ababa a noticeable up-tick in visiting delegations and temporary duty (TDY) personnel (from a multiplicity of USG agencies) over the past 18 months. The RSO said that at any given time the Embassy hosts more than 70 TDY personnel. Embassy control officers are responsible for arranging security briefs with the RSO's office for all visitors, the RSO said, adding that he would shortly circulate a (reminder) management notice to that effect. The RSO concluded that Embassy Addis Ababa would continue to scrutinize all proposed visits and TDY assistance and continues to reserve the right to turn off inbound travel by official USG personnel if Post cannot safely support the visits. The RSO noted that Post's substantial USDOD uniformed service personnel presence is highly visible and prone to attract the attention of casual outside observers and possibly hostile elements. The RSO further stated good operational security practices are imperative. Somalia/Somali Region Dangers -------------- ¶4. (S) The DCM noted that shortly after the March 18 Al-Shabaab designation, Al-Shabaab website postings threatened United States interests in the Horn of Africa. On March 20, the RSO reported, shortly after the Al-Shabaab designation, a Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) staff member traveling in a World Food Program (WFP) car was stopped in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia's Somalia region by individuals identifying themselves as members of the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) and told that "if you designate us as terrorists, we will act as terrorists." Although the OFDA staff member was eventually allowed to proceed unscathed, the RSO said the incident underscored the threat to USG personnel as a result of continuing instability in both the Somalia region and Somalia. Following the ADDIS ABAB 00000929 002 OF 002 incident, the RSO suspended indefinitely all travel by USG personnel to the Ogaden, with the exception of travel to Jijiga to be approved on a case-by-case basis for important USG matters. Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Tensions -------------- ¶5. (S) The DATT reported that tensions are running high on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, with troops from both countries within small arms range of each other. The Ambassador noted that both Ethiopia and Eritrea are monitoring closely the actions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),and that President Isaias has in the past said that Eritrea will resolve the border dispute with Ethiopia militarily if the UNSC cannot find an alternative. The RSO confirmed that travel to areas along the Ethiopia-Eritrea boarder for USG personnel continues to be restricted. Local Elections On The Horizon -------------- ¶6. (S) The DCM noted that Ethiopia will hold local elections on April 13 and 20. The EAC agreed that while election-related violence is not generally anticipated, polling stations can be flash-points. Likewise, elements hostile to the Ethiopian government could seek to use the polling dates, when security services will be focused on election-related security, to disrupt other areas of society. Eritrea could also be restive and disruptive during the Ethiopia vote. The DCM added that Ethiopia faces a number of domestic challenges that could threaten stability, including a worsening drought in much of the south and significant inflation. Incidents Highlight Additional Safety Concerns -------------- - ¶7. (S) The DCM said that, despite not harming anyone, two pre-dawn hand grenade explosions in Addis Ababa over the past two months highlight the risks to personal security posed by the increasing militarization of the Horn of Africa. The RSO said possession of hand grenades is not uncommon among ex-Ethiopian military personnel, and that these attacks appear not to have a specific target. However, the RSO said, the blasts show that although Addis Ababa is generally safe, Ethiopia is in a rough regional neighborhood and security services cannot always prevent isolated acts of violence. Moreover, Ethiopian security services tend not to provide much information when they claim to successfully foil extremists or insurgent plots. Recommended Actions -------------- ¶8. (S) In light of the forgoing, the EAC reviewed Ethiopia's Country Specific Information Sheet and decided to strengthen the language to discourage more strongly American Citizens from travel close to the Eritrean border and to advise them to avoid public demonstrations and crowds. In addition, the EAC decided to produce a Warden Message in advance of the upcoming local elections (such is message to be cleared by Washington separately from this cable). YAMAMOTO