UPDATE ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000239

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JWYSHAM AND S/CT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR ET
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON
DEVELOPMENT (IGAD) CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM AGAINST
TERRORISM (ICPAT)

IGAD Preps Two Conventions
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1. (SBU) Program Head (Ambassador) Hiruy Amanuel briefed
PolOff on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's
(IGAD) Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT),
which is wholly funded by foreign assistance (Denmark,
Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Spain, Norway and Italy
participate). Hiruy said that ICPAT has had some success in
drafting (with United Nations and foreign technical
assistance) two IGAD conventions on mutual legal assistance
and extradition. Hiruy said that every IGAD member state has
approved the conventions at the expert level and has passed
the draft to their justice ministries for signature. ICPAT
hopes that the conventions will be signed by all IGAD justice
ministers in April, with ratification complete by mid-2010.
ICPAT also revised counterterrorism laws for Sudan and Uganda
and has made recommendations on draft counterterrorism laws
circulating in Ethiopia and Kenya, Hiruy said.

Somali TFG Police Missing In Action
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2. (SBU) Hiruy noted that ICPAT has provided one-month
counterterrorism training courses to batches of 25 police
from Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. The United
Nations, Interpol and Scotland Yard, among others, provide
resources and instructors. ICPAT also assisted with
Ethiopian training for 1,000 Somali police officers to
support the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
Asked for an update on the 25 TFG police who received ICPAT's
one-month counterterrorism course, Hiruy said the group had
deployed to Somalia and officers assisted with security at
the Mogadishu airport and in police headquarters as well.
Hiruy added that he had no way to track their status with
Somalia in turmoil, and noted that one "Colonel Omar," who
"organized" Ethiopian training of 1,000 TFG police had been
killed in a landmine blast upon returning to Somalia.

Border Security Addressed
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3. (SBU) ICPAT has enjoyed some success assisting IGAD member
states with border security matters, Hiruy said, adding that
ICPAT coordinated with, and brought together, border security
stakeholders from all the IGAD member states and helped the
states develop action plans for enhanced border security
cooperation. Acknowledging that implementation has yet to
occur, Hiruy emphasized that ICPAT helped "jump-start a
dormant process." Hiruy also sees a role for ICPAT, which is
mid-way through a four-year funding cycle, in implementing
IGAD's draft peace and security strategy.

Anti-Money Laundering Legislation on Track?
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4. (SBU) Speaking to U.S. bilateral concerns with Ethiopia,
Hiruy noted that Ethiopia will adopt anti-money laundering
(AML) and counterterrorism finance (CTF) legislation soon.
Hiruy said that the National Bank of Ethiopia had
commissioned, and ICPAT had financed, the current draft,
which he said may be circulated within the Ethiopian
government within the next two weeks.

Comment
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5. (SBU) In 2008, the United States explored through S/CT
potential support for some of ICPAT's programs going-forward.
Ambassador Hiruy will travel to the United States in
mid-February and we have recommended that he meet with
relevant State and Defense Department offices to pitch his
case. ICPAT is a competent organization with an over-broad
mandate that may be able to continue to play some role in
regional counterterrorism coordination, with continued
international assistance. End Comment.

ADDIS ABAB 00000239 002 OF 002


YAMAMOTO