Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGUI83
2009-04-20 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangui
Cable title:
EXTORTION,WITH A RECEIPT: ROADWAY INSECURITY CRIPPLING FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO4194 PP RUEHBZ RUEHGI DE RUEHGI #0083 1101429 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 201429Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0888 INFO RHMFISS/AFRICOM RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0154 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0256 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0267 RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0168 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0115 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0443 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0427 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0423 RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1110
UNCLAS BANGUI 000083
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR KOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: EXTORTION,WITH A RECEIPT: ROADWAY INSECURITY CRIPPLING FOR
THE C.A.R.
UNCLAS BANGUI 000083
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR KOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: EXTORTION,WITH A RECEIPT: ROADWAY INSECURITY CRIPPLING FOR
THE C.A.R.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 27, 2009 a motorcycle belonging to an
NGO working out of Birao in northeast Central African Republic
(CAR) was stolen from its riders. What followed was an almost
farcical tale of armed theft and extortion that is sadly typical
of the state of lawlessness in most of the CAR once one leaves
Bangui. Sadly, Post sees no end in sight to this menace despite
a 2008 comprehensive peace accord that incorporated most of the
rebels, including the ones who perpetrated this theft. The CAR
government (CARG) lacks the means, and perhaps even the will, to
address the problem of insecurity, whether due to armed rebels
or simple thieves. This impacts everything from commerce to
development to humanitarian relief, and effects over more than
fifty percent of the national territory. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) An incident report from the French NGO ACTED describes,
in detail, the rapaciousness of the local bandits and the rebel
group UFDR (Union of Democratic Forces for Unity) and vividly
illustrates the helplessness of those caught in the middle. On
March 27, two local employees of ACTED were forcibly deprived of
their motorcycle and related items by two assailants wearing ski
masks and wielding AK-47s. The next day, an International Red
Cross vehicle was hailed down by Sub-lieutenant Abduolaye Hamat
of the UFDR, who claimed to have `found' the motorcycle and
wanted a reward of USD 200 for his troubles. ACTED officials, on
the other hand, strongly suspect that the original bandits were
working in concert with Hamat.
3. (SBU) Over the next six days ACTED negotiated with the UFDR
military chief Zakaria Damane (NOTE: Damane is also an Inclusive
Political Dialogue signatory and advisor to President Bozize.)
Finally, Damane decided that ACTED did not have to pay the
indemnity, but instead that the acting head of ACTED must
personally pay the ransom. It is likely that this was decided to
avoid paperwork for ACTED, but it unclear that ACTED actually
agreed to the deal. Regardless, on April 6, 2009, Hamat
appeared, armed, at the home of the acting head of ACTED and
demanded the money. A meeting was quickly organized between
ACTED, the Sous-Prefet (and Mayor of Birao),the UFDR and
MINURCAT. As no one was willing to protect the interests of
ACTED, the NGO was obliged to pay. Hamat generously signed a
receipt of the payment from ACTED, stating he was being paid,
`as a counter party of the motorbike that was stolen'. As a
result of this event and a previous attack upon an ACTED convoy
five days before, the NGO has suspended its activities pending
updated security procedures.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: While this event seems almost comical, it does
underscore a fundamental crisis in the CAR:
- Road banditry strangles traffic along the CAR's decrepit
roads. Within two days of this incident, there were three other
reports of road holdups and sadly, this does not signal an
upsurge. These are daily events and a direct result of a feeble
government. While the Ministry of Defense may claim some 8,000
soldier and gendarmes, the Deputy Minister freely admits that
only a bare 3,000 are actually capable of operations for a
country the size of Texas. This means approximately one soldier
or gendarme per 207 square kilometers. Additionally, their level
of training and equipment is minimal.
- The international forces of MICOPAX and MINURCAT are even less
effective as neither is large enough to cover the entire CAR.
Moreover, and the former lacks the will to intervene and the
latter lacks the mandate, as MINURCAT is limited to operating in
only a small area in the extreme northeast of the country. It is
thus important that one understands that the international
forces in the CAR cannot or will not solve the problems of
banditry and rebellion.
Until the government is able to exert effective control over its
territory and thus protect trade and commerce - a prospect not
soon to come - Post sees no end to further incidents of road
banditry and rebel impunity. END COMMENT.
COOK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR KOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: EXTORTION,WITH A RECEIPT: ROADWAY INSECURITY CRIPPLING FOR
THE C.A.R.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 27, 2009 a motorcycle belonging to an
NGO working out of Birao in northeast Central African Republic
(CAR) was stolen from its riders. What followed was an almost
farcical tale of armed theft and extortion that is sadly typical
of the state of lawlessness in most of the CAR once one leaves
Bangui. Sadly, Post sees no end in sight to this menace despite
a 2008 comprehensive peace accord that incorporated most of the
rebels, including the ones who perpetrated this theft. The CAR
government (CARG) lacks the means, and perhaps even the will, to
address the problem of insecurity, whether due to armed rebels
or simple thieves. This impacts everything from commerce to
development to humanitarian relief, and effects over more than
fifty percent of the national territory. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) An incident report from the French NGO ACTED describes,
in detail, the rapaciousness of the local bandits and the rebel
group UFDR (Union of Democratic Forces for Unity) and vividly
illustrates the helplessness of those caught in the middle. On
March 27, two local employees of ACTED were forcibly deprived of
their motorcycle and related items by two assailants wearing ski
masks and wielding AK-47s. The next day, an International Red
Cross vehicle was hailed down by Sub-lieutenant Abduolaye Hamat
of the UFDR, who claimed to have `found' the motorcycle and
wanted a reward of USD 200 for his troubles. ACTED officials, on
the other hand, strongly suspect that the original bandits were
working in concert with Hamat.
3. (SBU) Over the next six days ACTED negotiated with the UFDR
military chief Zakaria Damane (NOTE: Damane is also an Inclusive
Political Dialogue signatory and advisor to President Bozize.)
Finally, Damane decided that ACTED did not have to pay the
indemnity, but instead that the acting head of ACTED must
personally pay the ransom. It is likely that this was decided to
avoid paperwork for ACTED, but it unclear that ACTED actually
agreed to the deal. Regardless, on April 6, 2009, Hamat
appeared, armed, at the home of the acting head of ACTED and
demanded the money. A meeting was quickly organized between
ACTED, the Sous-Prefet (and Mayor of Birao),the UFDR and
MINURCAT. As no one was willing to protect the interests of
ACTED, the NGO was obliged to pay. Hamat generously signed a
receipt of the payment from ACTED, stating he was being paid,
`as a counter party of the motorbike that was stolen'. As a
result of this event and a previous attack upon an ACTED convoy
five days before, the NGO has suspended its activities pending
updated security procedures.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: While this event seems almost comical, it does
underscore a fundamental crisis in the CAR:
- Road banditry strangles traffic along the CAR's decrepit
roads. Within two days of this incident, there were three other
reports of road holdups and sadly, this does not signal an
upsurge. These are daily events and a direct result of a feeble
government. While the Ministry of Defense may claim some 8,000
soldier and gendarmes, the Deputy Minister freely admits that
only a bare 3,000 are actually capable of operations for a
country the size of Texas. This means approximately one soldier
or gendarme per 207 square kilometers. Additionally, their level
of training and equipment is minimal.
- The international forces of MICOPAX and MINURCAT are even less
effective as neither is large enough to cover the entire CAR.
Moreover, and the former lacks the will to intervene and the
latter lacks the mandate, as MINURCAT is limited to operating in
only a small area in the extreme northeast of the country. It is
thus important that one understands that the international
forces in the CAR cannot or will not solve the problems of
banditry and rebellion.
Until the government is able to exert effective control over its
territory and thus protect trade and commerce - a prospect not
soon to come - Post sees no end to further incidents of road
banditry and rebel impunity. END COMMENT.
COOK