MADAGASCAR: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000832


STATE FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV
STATE FOR S/CT - RSHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: A) STATE 120019 B) ANTANANARIVO 701

SUMMARY
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1. International terrorism remained a concern in Madagascar in 2008
due to the island nation's inadequately monitored 3,000 mile
coastline. Despite limited resources, government officials were
eager to cooperate with the United States and the international
community to implement counterterrorism measures. The Government of
Madagascar took a number of steps, detailed below, to improve border
security and combat terrorist finance in 2008. End summary.


2. International terrorism was a concern in Madagascar because of
the island nation's inadequately monitored 3,000 mile coastline.
Limited equipment, personnel, and training for border control
increased the risks of penetration. Malagasy police, military,
intelligence, and security forces have not had much training in
counterterrorism and maritime surveillance. Although Madagascar has
not been the victim of a major terrorist attack to date, the country
is particularly concerned about its ability to provide security and
ensure against terrorist attacks when it hosts the African Union
Summit in July 2009.


3. Despite limited resources, government officials were willing to
cooperate with the United States and the international community.
Madagascar volunteered to be chosen by the UN as a pilot country for
counterterrorism efforts, and received a UN evaluation mission
headed by UN C/T Chief Mike Smith in October. The UN team will
draft a report of recommendations for the GOM on how to better
implement UN Resolution 1373, likely focusing on improved
coordination between the intelligence services, police, and
gendarmerie (ref B).


4. To combat terrorist threats, the GOM has created the Central
Counterterrorism Service within the Ministry of Interior to work
with INTERPOL and provide information within the framework of
regional and international cooperation. It has also created a
special counterterrorism branch within the Central Intelligence
Service. In June, the Financial Intelligence Unit (SAMIFIN) was
officially launched. It is charged with combating money laundering,
including terrorist finance.


5. The GOM also took steps in 2008 to create a coast guard to
improve maritime security and border control, although much work
remains to be done. The government improved customs methods and
equipment and adopted a biometric passport. It also installed an
information system to track arrivals and departures, x-ray machines,
UV lamps, and magnetometers at the international airports. The
administration drafted a bill encompassing the universal
counterterrorism instruments, including the requirements of UN
resolution 1373, to be presented to parliament in 2009. Judges,
prosecutors, and judicial police were trained on international
counterterrorism cooperation in January.


6. Despite this progress, limited resources constrained Madagascar's
ability to confront a potential terrorist threat. The Malagasy
authorities still lack the capacity to effectively monitor suspect
organizations, control suspicious financial transactions, control
the movement of people and goods across its borders, and identify
terrorist suspects.


7. The embassy point of contact is Pol/Econ Chief Dovie Holland;
hollandda2@state.gov; 261-20-22-212-57.


STROMAYER