KHARTOUM EAC CONVENES

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000257 BT SENSITIVE DEPT FOR M, AF, DS, AF/SPG, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, AND CA/OCS DEPT FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AEMR AMGT PGOV SU SUBJECT: KHARTOUM EAC CONVENES ¶1. (SBU) The CDA convened the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on Tuesday, February 24, to review the general security situation in light of yesterday's notice that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will announce its indictment decision on March 4. The DCM, PAO, USAID A/MD, USAID EXO, POL, MGT, CONS, RAO, DLO, RMO, OBO PD, OBO SSM, and RSO were in attendance. ¶2. (SBU) The CDA reminded the EAC that the ICC announcement, along with other security issues the Mission continues to monitor will impact our security posture. In light of the looming ICC announcement, the ever-present terrorist threat and physical security vulnerabilities of the Chancery and other Mission facilities, the CDA said every effort should be made to decrease the number of American and TCN employees in Sudan. He asked the EAC to identify ways to lower the USG footprint until after the March 4 ICC announcement. The EAC agreed on the following additional security measures that will be implemented immediately: - Cancel all TDY visits to Embassy Khartoum, with the exception of DS and OBO employees, until further notice. ConGen Juba can still allow TDY visitors, but they cannot transit Khartoum. - Embassy Khartoum Agency Heads and Section Chiefs must review the status of all TDY personnel currently at post to determine which non-Mission critical TDY employees should be asked to leave early in order to reduce the Mission's footprint. - The Embassy will remain open on March 4 and 5, but will operate under a liberal leave policy, with American staff, as appropriate, being encouraged to work from at home. No outside visitors or appointments should be scheduled on these days. The NEC will operate on a business-as-usual basis. - No in-country travel requests will be approved after March 2 until further notice. This also applies to ConGen Juba employees. - No Khartoum International Airport arrivals/departures are allowed on March 4 or 5. - Official Americans are not allowed to travel across any of the bridges leading outside of Khartoum City Center from March 3 to March 6. - Beginning immediately, official Americans traveling within Khartoum must radio arrival and departure vehicle movements to the TOC on Channel 1 using the brevity codes and examples outlined in a security handout. - All official Americans must bring their handheld radios with them to the expanded Country Team on February 25 for radio refresher training. Specifically, the IMO will remind users how to place the radio in the "sleep" mode to avoid hearing radio "traffic" during meetings or at night. - All official Americans should keep a copy of their Diplomatic/Official passports or Diplomatic IDs with them at all times. - All official Americans must be sure their Grab & Go bag is packed and accessible. - The Embassy auction has been postponed until March 15. - The EAC cleared the revised Travel Warning, which will be sent out to all registered American Citizens via e-mail and SMS text message. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC also discussed the possibility of requesting authorized or ordered departures for family members only. No decision on this matter was made, but it remains part of contingency plans to reduce the number of official Americans at post. FERNANDEZ