POSSIBLE SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITY ON EMBASSY KIGALI

S E C R E T KIGALI 000722 NOFORN C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - PARAGRAPH MARKINGS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA,DS/SPC/MSG E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2018 TAGS: ASEC KMSG SUBJECT: POSSIBLE SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITY ON EMBASSY KIGALI AND OTHER AMERICAN INTERESTS Classified By: RSO M. Wray, reason 1.4 (c,d) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Clusters of incidents sometimes have a more profound effect and come into focus after the group has formed. Four recent incidents in Rwanda show a possible relationship and are reported in this cable. 1) On October 7, at a Marine function a Local Guard was approached and asked specific questions related to the Marines, the Marine house, their weapons and the number of Local Guard Force (LGF) assigned to Embassy Kigali. 2) As reported by Embassy Burundi, a Somali was apprehended by the Burundi authorities and was reported to have performed surveillance on Embassy Bujumbura. The man was also in possession of fraudulent travel documents. 3) Al Shabaab has publicly made statements suggesting they want to take hostile action against Uganda and Burundi. Of course Rwanda lies directly between the two countries. 4) A manager of a hotel frequented by Embassy Kigali staff, TDY visitors and American tourists reported an Arabic-looking man asking pointed questions about American and British activities at the hotel. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) On October 7, the Marines hosted a party outside the on-compound Marine house. Three men approached a Embassy Local Guard and one asked him questions. He asked which specific building was the Marine house, how many total Local Guards there were assigned to the Embassy and if the Marines had weapons. The guard acted correctly and stated he was not sure of any of the answers. He then reported the questions and the men to his Supervisor shortly thereafter. The Supervisor had noticed the men's arrival and consulted the logbook and reported the names to the RSO on October 8. the men were possibly accompanied by a female. Their names are: ¶1. Abdulali Tahlil, born 1983 currently holding a Belgian driver license, 2) Ali Abdikalim, born 1970, currently holding a US driver license, 3) Jean Bosco Rutaganda, born 1965 currently holding a Belgian driver license, and 4) Hawa Benemugisha, born 1987 currently holding a Rwandan national identity card. The LGF Supervisor also reported that he is familiar with the Somali language and he believed the three men were speaking Somali. ¶3. (SBU) On approximately October 28, a man was taken into custody at the Bujumbura airport by Burundi police. He had been returned from Nairobi where he was found to be in the possession of fraudulent travel documents and a photo substituted South African Passport. RSO Burundi stated he was identified by the Embassy Surveillance Detection team as appearing to do surveillance on the Embassy earlier in October. RSO Burundi also reported he may be associated with other criminal elements in Burundi with ties to Rwanda. He attempted to use fraudulent South African travel documents purporting to be a Somali refugee named Rahman Abdi born 01/01/1980. RSO Bujumbura reported he had several hotel receipts from different countries in Africa. RSO Burundi reports him to more probably be a Somali named Mohamed Badal Abdulahi born in Mogadishu, Somali on 03/03/1978. ¶4. (S/NF) While Al Shabaab has not made statements about actions against US interests in Rwanda; they have made statements suggesting they want to take hostile actions against Uganda and Burundi. Embassy Kigali expresses concern due to the geographical proximity of Rwanda to both countries named as targets by Al Shabaab. Qtargets by Al Shabaab. ¶5. (SBU) On October 29, a manager of the Serena hotel located in Kigali reported to a member of Emb Kigali about an Arab-looking male making pointed queries about Americans and British citizens. The man asking the questions was not a guest at the hotel. He asked if there currently were Americans staying in the hotel or if American tourists frequented the hotel. The same questions were asked about any British at the hotel. The manager stated there were not, and they did not frequently have Americans or British in the hotel. The man then walked around the public areas of the hotel and left the area. The manager reported that the incident occurred sometime near the middle of October. ¶6. (SBU) Embassy Kigali has shared the information and photos related to the men at the October 7 function at the Marine house, and the information on the individual at the Serena hotel with the Rwanda National Police and other Rwanda Government Security services. They were asked to investigate and alert Embassy Kigali about any developments of interest on the incidents. The photos of the three men involved with the Marine house were shared with the Embassy Local Guard Force and the force was instructed to be alert and vigilant on this issue. ¶7. (SBU) An EAC, reported in reftel a, was convened related to the information in this cable. The Embassy-wide community and agencies were instructed to be alert to the possibility of surveillance and a possible heightened threat. SYMINGTON