CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAIA 000188 EUCOM PASS AFRICOM E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/9/2018 TAGS: PINR PREL SNAR OEXC CV SUBJECT: CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CLASSIFIED BY: Patrick Dunn, Charge, AMEMBASSY PRAIA, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(c),(d) This is an action request: Please see paras 5 and 6. ¶1. (C) On June 30, Charge met with Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister Antonio Nascimento, to discuss his recent participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program on transnational crime. Nascimento has also been quietly tasked with assuming the lead on standing up Cape Verde's new intelligence service, the National Information Service (SIR), and discussion quickly turned to GOCV needs in this area. ¶2. (U) Nascimento was exceedingly impressed with the organization of the IVLP program, and was inspired by some of the meetings he had. In particular the visit graphically demonstrated for him the importance of a well-designed and properly staffed command center to coordinate responses to emergent situations, crises, or operational engagements. Nascimento's other significant take-away was the importance for Cape Verde of getting its arms around "technical crimes" such as identity theft and cyber crime. ¶3. (C) Applying these lessons directly to his SIR portfolio, Nascimento outlined three strategic objectives for the new service. First, the ability to visualize threats to the territory of Cape Verde (much of which is maritime). This, he summarized as the ability to gather information. Second, analytical capability, to turn that raw information into actionable intelligence and the capacity to disseminate that information to decisionmakers. Third, he pointed to the need to have the capacity to react to intelligence, and to deter threats to the country. Nascimento has been in close contact with a number of intelligence services, and understands the breadth of the task he is facing, from collection capability, to networking, to recruitment, training, analysis, and direct action. ¶4. (C) Nascimento feels some urgency in his task, but is not, in Post's view, rushing into any poor decisions. He has methodically planned and executed legislative approvals, implementing regulations, organizational charts, outreach to other elements of the international intelligence community, and coalition building within the GOCV. His strategic framework in place, Nascimento now feels the time is ripe for moving to the next stage, of standing up the entity, constructing secure office space, and recruiting and training staff. Nascimento outlined four short-term goals as his next steps: (1) rehabilitate a building for use as the SIR headquarters; (2) pass the organic law for the SIR, which essentially implements his proposed organizational structure; (3) pass a state secrets law; and (4) begin recruitment. ¶5. (C) Nascimento recognizes that he has significant unmet needs, but singled out just three that he would seek USG assistance on as soon as possible. -- Training for one or two intelligence analysts. This training could be by an intelligence agency per se, but if that proves too sensitive a place to start, Nascimento would welcome training from the intelligence professionals of related disciplines and agencies (for example, DEA expertise in analyzing drug trafficking, or FinCen expertise in analyzing financial intelligence.) -- Training in combating high-tech crime, including cybercrime, identity theft, credit card fraud and other forms of financial crimes. -- Excess vehicles, preferably old, worn-out looking pickup or utility trucks. Such vehicles would have many uses, he said, but would need to be inconspicuous. ¶6. (C) Action Requested: Post finds each of the above requests for assistance to be reasonable and well thought-out, and asks that appropriate Washington-based agencies consider what technical assistance might be available, whether from the IC or the law enforcement community more broadly, to assist Nascimento in standing up the SIR. POC: Please contact Justin Davis (DavisJX@state.sgov.gov) Cape Verde Desk Officer at Dept of State Africa Bureau, Office of West African Affairs, or Parick Dunn, Charge d'Affaires a.i. at AmEmbassy Praia (dunnpm@state.sgov.gov),with any questions or proposals. DUNN