RFI REPORTED MALIAN ARMY SEIZURE OF ARMS AND DRUGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 000623

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER ML
SUBJECT: RFI REPORTED MALIAN ARMY SEIZURE OF ARMS AND DRUGS

Classified By: PolCouns Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Radio France International (RFI) reported on
September 17 that the Malian Army seized arms and drugs from
a three vehicle caravan heading across the Malian desert to
Mauritania. The report was reprinted in a few Malian
newspapers, however, not the official government newspaper,
L'Essor. According to Embassy sources, this seizure never
occured, although it is possible a smugglers' caravan was
waylaid either by rival Malian Arab smugglers or by members
of the Malian Gendarmerie. End summary.


2. (U) On September 17 RFI and Agence France Press stringer
Serge Daniel posted a report that Malian security forces
intercepted several vehicles near the Mali-Mauritania border.
RFI regional chief Christine Muratet clarified to PolCouns
that Serge Daniel believed the Malian Army seized either arms
or drugs from the smugglers. Daniel cited anonymous sources
in the Malian security establishment. Malian press scarcely
carried the story and it was not reprinted in the official
government newspaper, L'Essor.


3. (C) PolCouns contacted a security official in the Ministry
of Territorial Administration, who said there had been no
seizures that week and no conflicts between smugglers, to the
best of his knowledge. The security official made clear he
checked with all the Malian Arab community leaders to confirm
that no intercepts or seizures had been made. A Northern
Malian source told PolCouns that the Malian Army has been
holed up in Tessalit and has not made any significant
manoeuvres in recent weeks. He also confirmed that no
seizure was made. Embassy DAO has also confirmed with a
Ministry of Defense contact that no such seizure took place.


4. (C) PolFSN also made several phone calls to contacts in
Northern Mali, who said the Malian Army had not made any
seizures. One source did mention a brief conflict between
two groups of Malian Arab smugglers near the town of Eghabab,
just west of Tessalit. The source stated that one group
driving three vehicles transporting drugs was caught in an
ambush by another group. Through negotiations the two groups
came to an agreement without any lives lost and the caravan
moved onward.


5. (C) A National Assembly Deputy - who is also an alleged
smuggler - from Kidal Region recounted a similar story,
however, in this case the three vehicle caravan had crossed
from Mauritania into Mali carrying cocaine and arms. He
stated the caravan belonged to a Telemsi Arab merchant,
Mohamed ould Laghouinat. According to his version, a Malian
National Guard patrol intercepted the caravan. After a brief
discussion, Ould Laghouinat made a phone call to Bamako via
satellite phone, after which the caravan was permitted to
continue on its journey without loss of merchandise.


6. (C) Comment: It is entirely possible that several
confrontations happened over the past two weeks and that all
three stories - of an army intercept, a National Guard
intercept, and a rival smugglers ambush - are correct.
Unfortunately, it also appears that, contrary to the RFI
report, no seizures were achieved. Furthermore, the lack of
information provided by security officials combined with the
story of a quick phone call to liberate ould Laghouinat's
caravan hint at possible GOM officials' involvement in
protecting/facilitating certain smugglers. End comment.
MILOVANOVIC