ABIDJAN: ASSESSING THE NEED FOR INCREASED

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000125 DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, AF/RSA, INL/AAE AND DS/T/ATA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV SOCI KCRM IV SUBJECT: ABIDJAN: ASSESSING THE NEED FOR INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL TRAINING REF: A) STATE 5448 B)ABIDJAN 112 C) 08 ABIDJAN 839 ¶1. (U) In response to reftel A, Embassy submits the following assessment of Cote d'Ivoire's need for increased law enforcement and judicial training. Point of contact for this report is ARSO Marc Trahan (phone: 225.2249.4448 IVG 783). ¶2. (U) Cote d'Ivoire's non-military security forces face both internal and regional challenges. In a country rated critical for crime and political violence by the U.S. Department of State, the ongoing political crisis weakens the ability of the police and security forces to carry out their duties. Law enforcement is made all the more difficult as porous borders and widespread public corruption increase the risk of trafficking in persons (reftel B), trafficking in drugs (reftel C),money laundering and foreign terrorists' ability to use Cote d'Ivoire as an operational or financial base. Cote d'Ivoire's non-military security forces are under-funded and under-trained. ¶3. (U) The country's non-military law enforcement sector lack the financial and material resources as well as the training necessary to effectively respond to many of its internal and regional security challenges. National police are often under-paid and under-staffed. Many regional police units lack transportation for crime interdiction and basic office materials, i.e., computers and printers for database maintenance. Counternarcotics police officers receive two weeks of training before hitting the streets, which is insufficient preparation to combat the increase of drug trafficking in Cote d'Ivoire. The National Police has ten regional offices throughout southern Cote d'Ivoire each comprised of 10 - 15 officers. (Note: Only recently are National Police units beginning to operate in northern Cote d'Ivoire, which is controlled by the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN)). In compliance with sanctions imposed on Cote d'Ivoire in 1999 under Section 508 of the U.S. Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, the USG has suspended most levels of law enforcement assistance. Current activities consist of technical assistance via the PISCES program to improve interdiction capabilities at major border crossings, a comprehensive and transparent visa processing system and public diplomacy programs that foster support for human rights and counterterrorism activities. ¶4. (U) Ivorian law enforcement officials have expressed an eagerness to receive USG assistance and to work in partnership in its implementation. The government would welcome joint initiatives to train and equip the non-military law enforcement sector, i.e., send National Police officers to ILEA training and provide them with law enforcement database maintenance resources. Post would support this kind of partnership once free and fair elections are held and Section 508 sanctions are lifted. ¶5. (U) Embassy is unaware of any type of existing or planned non-military regional training center in Cote d'Ivoire operated by either an international partner or the Government of Cote d'Ivoire. NESBITT