FW: GODJ FONMIN AGREES TO TRANSIT OF SUSPECTED PIRATES BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000116

SIPDIS SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-02-13
TAGS: MOPS KE DJ
SUBJECT: FW: GODJ FONMIN AGREES TO TRANSIT OF SUSPECTED PIRATES BY
USG

CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)


1. (C) Summary: Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Youssouf
told Ambassador February 12 that the GODJ would accept to serve as
a venue for transit of suspected pirates to Kenya for prosecution,
provided that (1) onward transfer occur immediately, with minimal
time on the ground in Djibouti, (2) the suspected pirates remain in
USG custody the entire time, and (3) there is no publicity
concerning Djibouti's role in the mission. While the Foreign
Minister concurred with the general concept of transit of suspected
pirates through Djibouti, we would need to advise him and the
Djiboutian security services of any specific transfer operation,
and ensure there is a detailed operational plan to respect the
conditions the minister outlined. End summary.


2. (C) Ambassador and DCM took advantage of a previously
scheduled meeting with the Foreign Minister February 12 to ask
about GODJ willingness to accept short-turnaround transit of
suspected pirates through Djibouti en route to Kenya. The
Ambassador outlined a hypothetical scenario in which the suspects
would be flown in by USG helo and transferred immediately to a USG
fixed-wing aircraft for onward flight to Kenya. The suspects would
remain in USG custody the entire time.


3. (C) Youssouf responded without hesitation that the GODJ would
accept to serve as a venue for transit of the suspected pirates,
provided that the helo-to-plane hand-off occur with minimal time on
the ground, that the suspects remain in USG custody at all times,
and that there is no publicity that Djibouti was used as a point of
transfer. He underscored that Djibouti is prepared to serve as a
site for transit of the suspects, but absolutely does not want to
be given custody of them at any time or otherwise face a situation
in which the suspects would be brought before the Djiboutian
judicial system.


4. (C) Comment: The possibility of suspected pirates transiting
through Djibouti was raised at only a general level with Youssouf
but his response was clear and immediate: the GODJ will agree to
this, under the conditions he described. Post is separately
double-tracking this proposal with the GODJ security services to
ensure they also are aware of and support use of Djibouti for
transit. If an interagency decision is taken to effect a transfer
through Djibouti, we will need to advise the GODJ in advance of the
specific operation, and ensure there is a detailed operational plan
that addresses the conditions outlined by the Foreign Minister.
Post believes it is also in USG interest to minimize the visibility
of any Djibouti role in transfer of detainees, in order to avoid
attracting undue attention to CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonier'
involvement in such transfers.
SWAN

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