BOTSWANA 2009 REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS GABORONE 001001 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PINS PREL AEMRBC SUBJECT: BOTSWANA 2009 REPORT ON TERRORISM Botswana ¶1. Botswana has a low terrorism threat. No acts of domestic or international terrorism occurred in Botswana during 2009. ¶2. While there was no evidence of terrorists using Botswana in this way in 2009, two reports in recent years suggest that terrorists could use Botswana as a transit point due to its long, porous borders. There was a 2006 report of organized smuggling of immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan and a 2007 report stated that suspected Islamic militant Haroon Rashid Aswad resided in Botswana in 2005 prior to his arrest in Zambia. The large number of Zimbabwean economic migrants who are living in Botswana after crossing the border illegally also demonstrates that the border is easily crossed. ¶3. Botswana is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC),whose Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security is responsible for its counterterrorism efforts. The Government of Botswana has a National Counterterrorism Committee to address issues pertaining to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Botswana's first intelligence agency, which is responsible for both domestic and foreign intelligence gathering, was established in 2008. The Botswana Defense Force designated a squadron as its counterterrorist unit and sent several officers to IMET-sponsored counterterrorism training. Members of the Botswana Police Service also received antiterrorism training at the International Law Enforcement Academy located in Gaborone, Botswana. ¶4. In April 2009, Botswana's Parliament passed legislation to create a Financial Intelligence Agency (FIU). The FIU will harmonize Botswana's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime. While the legislation for this has been enacted, the FIU is still being established. Until the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is functioning, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes has a dedicated unit that will continue investigating suspicious transactions. One goal of this legislation is to decrease the likelihood that terrorist financing could move through Botswana's financial institutions. Terrorist financing is not criminalized as a specific offense in Botswana. However, acts of terrorism and related offenses, such as aiding and abetting, can be prosecuted under the Penal Code and under the Arms and Ammunitions Act. ¶5. The Bank of Botswana circulates to financial institutions the names of suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations listed on the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list, the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists designated by the United States pursuant to E.O. 13224, and the EU list. This circulation, however, is done on more of a voluntary, informational basis than a legal one because, as a World Bank assessment of the Botswana government's anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing legislation noted, Botswana does not have a legal framework to implement UNSCR 1267 and 1373 or freeze assets based on these frameworks. ¶6. No legal cases related to terrorism or terrorist financing were prosecuted by the Government of Botswana in 2009. There were no extradition requests from the United States to Botswana or vice versa. Botswana and the United States do not have a treaty on extradition. ¶7. There is no evidence that Botswana provides safe haven to terrorists. ¶8. Embassy point of contact is Pol/Econ officer Adrienne Taylor at TaylorAB@state.gov. HAMILTON