EXPAT SECURITY THREATENED IN CABINDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000222

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC EINT EPET AO
SUBJECT: EXPAT SECURITY THREATENED IN CABINDA

REF: A. LUANDA 081

B. 06 LUANDA 01281

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GRA remains tight-lipped about recent
attacks against expatriates in Cabinda province, and the lack
of a transparent investigation into the attacks makes it
difficult to know if separatist politics or simple banditry
are motivating the criminals. The increased danger posed to
expats is curbing onshore investment, at least in the short
term, and the Embassy is advising extreme caution to
travelers in Cabinda through suggested changes to the
Consular Information Sheet and during local meetings of the
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). END SUMMARY

Recent Attacks Target Expats
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2. (SBU) On March 3 a Portuguese citizen was shot by unknown
assailants while driving between Dinge and Cabinda City. The
victim, employed by the Portuguese public works company
Tecnovia, was hit and wounded when an unknown number of
assailants fired at his moving vehicle from hiding places in
the bush. Elements claiming association with the Front for
the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC),which was
legally disbanded following the 2006 signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding between the GRA and some FLEC elements,
claimed responsibility for the attack.


3. (SBU) Another attack was directed against a Finnish
national and a New Zealand national employed by Crown Agents
on February 24. They were attacked, beaten, and robbed by
three men, one armed with an AK-47, on a beach five km south
of Cabinda City. One victim, a female, was also sexually
assaulted. The attackers fled with the company's vehicle,
leaving the victims to walk to town in search of assistance.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which
appears to be motivated by banditry.


4. (C) These attacks come on the heels of the December 26,
2007 shooting death of a Brazilian national north of Dinge
(reftel). In a February 27 meeting with RSO and Poloff, the
events surrounding this shooting were further clarified by
Geokinetics (formerly Grant Geophysical) Country Manager
Chaalen Hage (please protect). Contrary to earlier reports,
he said no staff camped overnight at the remote work site and
that the attackers were laying in wait when the Brazilian
medic arrived, accompanied only by an Angolan medic and their
driver. The decision to send a team to the site was made
only two days before the visit, and extremely accurate
information about both the attack and internal company issues
were posted on the pro-FLEC Ibinda.com website shortly
following the attack, which Hage called a clear indication of
an information leak by locally employed staff. Hage also
reported the attackers ordered the two Angolans to "go tell
them the FLEC exists," then shot the Brazilian twice in the
chest.

Security Risks Downplayed by GRA, Sonangol
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5. (C) Hage reported multiple meetings with the military
commander of the 2nd military region (Cabinda) in the days
following the attack; the commander privately confirmed that
scattered pockets of armed FLEC supporters remain active in
the province. He mentioned several attacks against military
outposts and personnel and stated that 10,000 Angolan
soldiers were currently deployed in the province, largely
working to secure the Congo border. Sonangol security
personnel also informed Hage that people had been arrested in
connection with this attack, but Hage was not able to confirm
this information with military or police personnel.


6. (C) The two most recent attacks have received no official
news coverage in Angola, and the GRA has yet to make a public
statement. The two shootings were, however, covered in the
Portuguese and Brazilian press. When questioned by foreign
media, former FLEC leader Bento Bembe insisted that Cabinda
is peaceful and denied that former FLEC elements were behind
the attacks. In his view, foreign companies need to improve
local investment and hiring, and respect local traditions to
avoid engendering ill will and discontent. Bembe negotiated
and signed the MOU on behalf of the FLEC, an act that some
FLEC elements view as traitorous. Elements claiming
association with FLEC have been warning foreigners and
foreign companies that they should leave the province for
several months, stating that the FLEC intends to "destroy
everything that sustains the enemy" to show the world that
"Cabinda is still at war."

Doesn,t Take Much to Derail Onshore Investment

LUANDA 00000222 002 OF 002


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7. (C) Geokinetics ceased operations in Cabinda following the
attack. Hage expressed anger at the GRA and Sonangol's
positive depiction of the security situation Geokinetics
would face in Cabinda, as they were told that the FLEC didn't
exist and were not warned of any latent security threat. As
such, they choose not to hire or travel with private security
forces, which Hage initially viewed as a way for the police
commanders and army generals who run them to pad their
pockets. In retrospect, Hage believes they were "naive" in
taking the GRA at its word. Sonangol encouraged Geokinetics
to give the GRA three months to resolve the situation and
then return to work; Geokinetics refused, and are now working
with Sonangol to negotiate an onshore seismic exploration
contract south of Luanda. Hage said that a Chinese company,
who was the second bidder for the Cabinda contract, has
already contacted Sonangol to express their willingness to
pick up the onshore seismic exploration project in Cabinda.


8. (C) COMMENT: It is difficult to sort out which acts are
driven by political motives and which by banditry. The
result, however, is the same either way: an increased threat
profile to expatriates, which in turn limits onshore
investment for an industry shaken by kidnappings and attacks
in the Niger Delta. While most Amcits working in the
province are restricted to tightly guarded compounds, the
Embassy recommends revising the Consular Information Sheet to
warn of attacks against expats and urge extreme caution when
traveling in Cabinda. This same message is being conveyed to
the resident American community through OSAC. END COMMENT
MOZENA