Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA2076
2009-08-26 11:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

ETHIOPIA - ENGAGING IGAD ON COUNTERTERRORISM

Tags:  PREL PTER ASEC PGOV 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6003
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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
-------

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