Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA279
2009-08-24 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
CORRUPTION IN THE ERITREAN PASSPORT OFFICE
how-toVZCZCXRO9652 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0279 2361357 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 241357Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0445 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000279
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV CONS ASEC PINS ER
SUBJECT: CORRUPTION IN THE ERITREAN PASSPORT OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000279
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV CONS ASEC PINS ER
SUBJECT: CORRUPTION IN THE ERITREAN PASSPORT OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Ten officials in the Department of Immigration (DOI)
passport authority have been imprisoned for running an
illegal passport operation, according to close embassy
sources. The illegal outfit involved preparing false
documentation for clients, including national service release
and medical board clearance, both of which are prerequisites
for obtaining an exit visa. The services cost between $6,667
and $10,000, payable in nakfa, and included a valid passport,
which ordinarily costs only $30. The GSE caught wind of the
scheme and has restricted passport issuance to those who were
demobilized in the first 14 rounds of national service
(Eritrea is now on round 27). Approximately 70 clients took
advantage of the scheme, mostly departing the country through
Sudan.
2. (C) This is the second report Post has received in recent
months of malfeasance in the passport office. Approximately
eight months ago, the same operation reportedly took place,
with dozens of employees arrested afterwards. Following the
news, the passport office severely restricted its issuance
policies.
3. (C) COMMENT: Eritreans widely believe the DOI, the
passport authority in particular, to be corrupt. Despite the
office's constantly changing, and rarely published, policies,
Post expects officials within the DOI to continue to sell
passports and exit visas for large sums of currency to an
increasingly desperate populace.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV CONS ASEC PINS ER
SUBJECT: CORRUPTION IN THE ERITREAN PASSPORT OFFICE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Ten officials in the Department of Immigration (DOI)
passport authority have been imprisoned for running an
illegal passport operation, according to close embassy
sources. The illegal outfit involved preparing false
documentation for clients, including national service release
and medical board clearance, both of which are prerequisites
for obtaining an exit visa. The services cost between $6,667
and $10,000, payable in nakfa, and included a valid passport,
which ordinarily costs only $30. The GSE caught wind of the
scheme and has restricted passport issuance to those who were
demobilized in the first 14 rounds of national service
(Eritrea is now on round 27). Approximately 70 clients took
advantage of the scheme, mostly departing the country through
Sudan.
2. (C) This is the second report Post has received in recent
months of malfeasance in the passport office. Approximately
eight months ago, the same operation reportedly took place,
with dozens of employees arrested afterwards. Following the
news, the passport office severely restricted its issuance
policies.
3. (C) COMMENT: Eritreans widely believe the DOI, the
passport authority in particular, to be corrupt. Despite the
office's constantly changing, and rarely published, policies,
Post expects officials within the DOI to continue to sell
passports and exit visas for large sums of currency to an
increasingly desperate populace.
MCMULLEN