ETHIOPIA - ENGAGING IGAD ON COUNTERTERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002076 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PGOV SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA - ENGAGING IGAD ON COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION REF: STATE 86068 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Roger A. Meece for reasons 1.4 (B) an d (D). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The head of the IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT),Ambassador Hiruy suggested there is significant additional room for cooperation between Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) states. Amb. Hiruy noted that while member states do share intelligence on counterterrorism (CT) issues on bilateral bases, he suggested that there is not currently adequate confidence among member states for broad sharing of such information or the establishment of a joint intelligence fusion center across the board. Similarly, he noted that the lack of enabling legislation or financial intelligence units in most member states effectively impedes the broad cooperation to interdict financing to al-Shabaab. Amb. Hiruy did note that close coordination among East African federal police entities does work effectively and could be bolstered to improve information sharing to prevent terrorists, travel across regional borders. He also noted an IGAD joint extradition and mutual legal recognition agreement -- which has been endorsed by member states, justice ministers, but awaits final approval by members, foreign ministers -- as a potential basis from which to build upon to expand regional forensics cooperation. ¶2. (C) He suggested that the U.S. continue its bilateral engagement with IGAD member states to support increased engagement by ICPAT along these themes, but added that a concurrent approach with other major ICPAT donors -- specifically the Danes, Dutch, and/or Canadians -- at the next meeting of the IGAD Steering Committee in December would be useful to spur some of these initiatives. Amb. Hiruy noted that this initial ICPAT "project" would conclude in June 2010 and that member states are increasingly interested in ICPAT expanding its focus beyond counterterrorism to address all regional law enforcement activities, including narco-trafficking, trafficking in persons, etc. He argued that these new areas would expand the breadth of ICPAT, but not erode its effective focus on CT. Amb. Hiruy also disclosed that he will be leaving ICPAT in October to assume a new position as the Director of a newly established East Africa office for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, which will be based in Nairobi. He posited that ICPAT would likely be led by an Acting Director until IGAD reaches final agreement on what new form it should take. End Summary. POTENTIAL AREAS OF EXPANDED CT COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. (C) On August 24 Acting DCM Michael Gonzales and Deputy Political/Economic Counselor Kate Pongonis met with IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism head Ambassador Hiruy Amanual to discuss Reftel points for potential cooperation between IGAD states. Hiruy said that many IGAD member states already collaborate on, and share intelligence about terrorists on a bilateral basis. While he recognized the utility of more robust regional intelligence sharing across IGAD, he acknowledged that there is not yet adequate confidence among all member states to yet consider establishing an intelligence fusion center. ¶4. (C) In the area of information sharing on terrorist travel, Hiruy commented that such information is already being shared throughout the region under the auspices of Interpol. Hiruy specifically applauded the strong collaboration among regional federal police entities under the purview of the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization. Hiruy noted that IGAD had provided a training program for police with the Interpol office in Nairobi, adding that the police were the easiest to collaborate with. He suggested that this may be an effective partner organization with which ICPAT could collaborate to expand travelers, information sharing to stem cross border movements of terrorists. He clarified that although Ethiopia,s immigration service falls under the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS),Ethiopia,s border control falls under a federal police mandate. ¶5. (C) With regard to interdicting cash and other flows to ADDIS ABAB 00002076 002 OF 002 al-Shabaab, Hiruy said that IGAD member states would all be interested in cooperation on money laundering and countering terrorist financing, but noted that the absence of financial intelligence units (FIUs) in most member states largely impedes their ability to cooperate across national boundaries. He said the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group is a good institution to partner with, but its weakness is that it only offers support to countries after they have established FIUs. Another drawback is the group,s geographic scope, which does not include Sudan, impedes it from being a full and effective partner with all IGAD members. ¶6. (C) On potential forensics cooperation, Hiruy suggested that the USG might participate financially or with technical support in a training seminar ICPAT is planning to co-host with the Center for Global Counterterrorism Cooperation in Addis Ababa in January. The seminar (which has not yet been endorsed by the Foreign Ministers) would be to train law enforcement officials on how to implement a new IGAD agreement on joint extradition and mutual legal recognition which has been endorsed by justice ministers of member states, but awaits final approval by their foreign ministers. Hiruy did suggest that, once approved, this agreement could provide a foundation upon which some integrated regional forensics cooperation could build. HOW THE U.S. CAN ENGAGE ICPAT -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador Hiruy suggested that the U.S. continue its bilateral engagement with IGAD member states, but added that a concurrent approach to the next meeting of the IGAD Steering Committee in December would be useful to spur some of these initiatives. Hiruy noted that the largest donor contributors to ICPAT are the Danes, Dutch, and Canadians. As such, he advised the U.S. to coordinate with these partners -- particularly the Danes, who contribute $2.2 million -- on presenting a joint donor proposal for broader ICPAT collaboration in order to achieve optimal results. ICPAT,S FUTURE -------------- ¶8. (C) ICPAT was originally designed to be a limited-term "project", Ambassador Hiruy said, the initial term of which is set to conclude in June 2010. Member states are increasingly interested in expanding ICPAT,s mandate to incorporate more than just counterterrorism, but a whole range of issues from narco-trafficking, arms trafficking, and human trafficking, to border security and human security. It may also incorporate the Conflict Early Warning and Response Network (CEWARN) and go by a new name other than ICPAT, he speculated. He assured us that the robust focus on counterterrorism would not be diminished, however. ¶9. (C) Amb. Hiruy told us he will be leaving ICPAT in October to take up new posting as the Director of the new Nairobi-based East Africa office for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue. He speculated that ICPAT would likely be led by an Acting Director until IGAD reached a final agreement on its new structure. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) Amb. Hiruy has been our principal interlocutor at ICPAT. While there is some capacity in that institution, it is has primarily been a function of his strong leadership. Hence, ICPAT,s activism in the region may be diminished somewhat after his departure. At the same time, the imminent grant to ICPAT from S/CT will give us the opportunity to continue to engage with ICPAT leadership beyond Amb. Hiruy and to encourage continued activism. It will also allow us to understand ICPAT's strengths and limitations in the coming years, as well as provide the chance to nudge ICTAP in the direction we see as most beneficial as the organization takes on a new shape. End Comment. MEECE