DJIBOUTI CONVENES EAC TO REVIEW THREAT TO U.S.

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000110 NOFORN NOFORN SIPDIS SENSITIVE SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AF/E, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, CA/OCS/ACS/AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-02-10 TAGS: ASEC PTER DJ SO MOPS SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI CONVENES EAC TO REVIEW THREAT TO U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS REF: a) DJIBOUTI 54, b) TD-314/009192-09, c) TD-314/008984-09 d) STATE 9230 (NOTAL) CLASSIFIED BY: Ellen Tannor, Regional Security Officer, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy, Djibouti; REASON: 1.4(G) ¶1. (S/NF) Post convened its core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on February 10, following receipt of threat information citing possible planning of attacks on Djibouti night clubs frequented by U.S. servicemembers (refs B-C). Attendees included Ambassador, DCM, RSO, CONS, IPC, MGT, ORA, NCIS, POL, USLO, and representatives of Camp Lemonier, headquarters of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). ¶2. (S/NF) EAC members reviewed the threat information (ref B) and determined that the information was insufficient to warrant issuing a new warden message. With Department clearance, Post most recently issued a warden notice on January 28 (ref A) following specific threat information related to ongoing Somali peace talks being held in Djbouti. The January 28 warden notice recommended, inter alia, avoiding "unnecessary visits to hotels, restaurants, conference centers and other venues..." and continuing "to exercise caution to ensure personal security." In addition, EAC members cited previous warnings in effect, including the February 2 Worldwide Caution and its specific language on soft targets in East Africa and avoiding large concentrations of people (ref D). EAC members expressed concern that additional warden messages, that offered no additional specific information, risked diluting the impact of such messages. ¶3. (S/NF) EAC members noted that Djibouti night clubs are also frequented by numerous French troops, sometimes in uniform, and that the French military deploys uniformed security patrols in the club district. Camp Lemonier representatives noted that the U.S. military also conducted security patrols, but in plainclothes. ¶4. (S/NF) GRPO will share threat information with host government security services. Post will monitor local conditions to ensure appropriate steps are being taken by the host government. ¶5. (S/NF) The EAC agreed no changes in the security posture are warranted at this time. Post is already on a high level of alert, following October 29 bombings in neighboring Hargeisa and Bosasso, as well as the January 28 threat stream (ref A). Current security measures in place include Random Anti-Terrorism Measures (RAMs) conducted by the Marine security force based at Camp Lemonier, comprising patrols at the Embassy compound by HMMWVs armed with .50-caliber machine guns. Camp Lemonier is maintaining current liberty policies but is considering imposing random liberty changes to modify the profile of American presence in Djibouti city. ¶6. (U) Point of Contact for this report is Regional Security Officer Ellen Tannor, (253) 353-995 ext. 2807, tannore@state.gov SWAN To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:38714d5b-4903- 4627-8d93-7d7a98935993