2008 Country Reports on Terrorism: Senegal

UNCLAS DAKAR 000035 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT, AF/W, AF/RSA, AND INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KDRM KHLS AEMR SG SUBJECT: 2008 Country Reports on Terrorism: Senegal REF: 08 STATE 120019 ¶1. The following narrative is Posts submission for the 2008 Country Report on Terrorism (CRT): Senegal The Government of Senegal cooperated with the Untied States in identifying terrorist groups operating in Senegal. More work remained to be done, however, to develop first responder services, to facilitate the quick sharing of information between agencies, and to control porous borders where police and security services are undermanned and ill-equipped to prevent illicit cross-border trafficking. The Government of Senegal affirmed its commitment to the United States government-assisted efforts to augment its border security. Senegal continues to enhance its ability to combat terrorism, prosecute terror suspects, and respond to emergencies. Despite advances, however, Senegal lacked specific counterterrorism legislation and current laws made it difficult to prosecute terror suspects. As participants in the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership, more than 318 Senegalese government officials participated in ATA programs. Senegalese military officials attended a counterterrorism seminar and a Directors of Military Intelligence conference. The Defense International Institute of Legal Studies, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Treasury's Office Technical Assistance, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) gave separate seminars on the legal aspects of fighting terrorism. The Government of Senegal did not provide safe haven for terrorists or terrorist organizations, although terrorists were known to pass through the country. The Government has not significantly improved border controls since two Mauritanians who claimed to be members of Al-Qaeda and who were involved in the December 2007 murder of four French tourists in Aleg, Mauritania successfully traveled through Senegal before being captured in a hotel in Guinea Bissau by Bissau-Guinean police aided by French authorities on January 12. The Mauritanians were able to cross four Senegalese borders without being stopped by Senegalese authorities. This event demonstrates Senegal's porous borders and lack of capacity to effectively identify and combat terrorists threats and the need for further training. Moreover, it is suspected that Hezbollah uses the Lebanese community Senegal as a major source of financing. BERNICAT