INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTS ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000390 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SL SUBJECT: INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTS ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST LIBERIAN PRESIDENT Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/ d) ¶1. (S/NF) On September 30, CDA and Poloff met with a highly-placed intelligence source who reported that warlords aligned with Charles Taylor are planning a destabilizing campaign in Liberia. The apex of this campaign, allegedly, is an assassination attempt against President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. There is an additional plan to ambush UNMIL for arms and ammunition. ¶2. (S/NF) Source met with the National Security Advisor in Kenema, Sierra Leone, to share information. The Liberians were aware of the threat, and the Sierra Leonean information confirmed dates and places that the Liberians were tracking. President Johnson-Sirleaf is reportedly not taking the threat seriously, but security around her has been increased. ¶3. (S/NF) Source did not express concern that the group would also seek to destabilize Sierra Leone directly, though he did imply that it will be challenging for Sierra Leone cannot easily buffer instability if faced with it on all sides. FEDZER