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
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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
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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

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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
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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
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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
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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