BAMAKO EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE

S E C R E T BAMAKO 000889 FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS, GA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2020 TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: BAMAKO EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE Classified By: RSO Eleanor Holloway reason 1.4 (b) ¶1. (SBU) On November 14, the Ambassador chaired Bamako's Emergency Action Committee (EAC). In attendance were the acting DCM, RAO, Pol/Econ, Con, USAID, DAO and RSO. ¶2. (S/NF) RAO briefed EAC members that the Government of Mali (GOM) authorities briefed their office that AQIM had acquired 2 tons of fertilizer in Bamako and it had been shipped to the Timbuktu region. GOM authorities also provided the name of the driver and the shipping company that was hired to transport the fertilizer. RAO further reported that the fertilizer that was shipped was the same type of fertilizer found in the home of two affiliated AQIM individuals who were arrested while apparently preparing explosives in GAO several months ago. RAO reported that the GOM is uncertain where the materials would be used, whether in Mali or possibly sent north to Algeria. GOM authorities are monitoring the area and are working closely with Embassy officials. ¶3. (S/NF) EAC members agreed to temporarily suspend travel to the Timbuktu region based on the information received and the uncertainty of the intended usage of the materials. We believe in a few days it will be clear whether the materials is staying in Mali and may be used here or has been moved, reducing the threat to Timbuktu. The EAC will convene at a later date to determine the security situation for travel to the region. The Embassy will send out a Travel Alert for Timbuktu and areas north. ¶4. (SBU) The security in Bamako remains the same and does not warrant a change in the Embassy security posture, however, the all security staff have been alerted are to remain cautious. MILOVANOVIC