Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NOUAKCHOTT593
2009-09-15 12:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
MAURITANIA: PRESIDENT AZIZ ON TERRORISM AND
how-toVZCZCXRO5943 PP RUEHPA RUEHTRO DE RUEHNK #0593 2581240 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151240Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8769 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0235 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0851 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1209 RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0735
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000593
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID/W:KSHARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID PTER MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: PRESIDENT AZIZ ON TERRORISM AND
EXTREMISM
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 569
Classified By: CDA Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000593
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID/W:KSHARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID PTER MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: PRESIDENT AZIZ ON TERRORISM AND
EXTREMISM
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 569
Classified By: CDA Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) During the Ambassador's August 8 call on President
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on other matters, Aziz spoke about
the terrorist and extremist threats facing Mauritania. Aziz
focused first on the internal drivers of extremism, telling
the Ambassador that disgruntled youth were driven to
extremism and, in some cases, to Al Qaeda in the Maghreb
(AQIM) by "poor governance, bad national leadership,
corruption, and a weak judiciary" -- all areas he said his
government would address.
2. (C) Aziz saw the proximity of AQIM bases in northern Mali
as a serious threat and one that has the potential of
becoming a trans-Sahara threat if not addressed now when it
was still manageable. He noted that while AQIM was not a
significantly large force now, it will grow "if it keeps
getting a few million here, and a few million there, from
ransom payments." Seeing that cash inflow as a way for AQIM
to both conduct more operations and entice new members, Aziz
said, "we need to prevent it from replicating itself." Aziz
added, "I know we can't eradicate terrorism, but we are
committed to combating it."
3. (C) Aziz was confident AQIM could be contained but
stressed it needed a regional approach. In that vein, he
voiced doubts about Malian commitment to the fight noting
Bamako had previously been "at peace" with AQIM to avoid
attacks on its territory -- but at the cost of forgoing
potential mineral exploration in its northern areas. Aziz
indicated he would meet Malian President Toure following
Ramadan to get a better feel for Malian commitment (Comment:
It was not clear if he meant a bilateral visit or as part of
the long-anticipated trans-Sahel security meeting. End
Comment).
4. (C) Aziz' concerns echoed those of Chief of Defense
General Ghazwany who met with the Ambassador, DATT, and
AFRICOM visitors on August 1. As reported in greater detail
in DAO channels, Ghazwany noted that AQIM in northern Mali is
still a force of a few hundred fighters and maybe twenty
vehicles. While the vast desert is a tough area to conduct
military operations, he noted "it doesn't offer the hiding
places of an Afghanistan." Ghazwany welcomed the Algerian
initiative for cooperation between Algeria, Mauritania, Mali,
and Niger. The four armies working together could take on
the AQIM threat, he felt. That stated, Ghazwany said he
wanted to see concrete actions coming out of the nice
declarations coming out of the Algeria meeting. He too
questioned whether Mali was really committed to the fight but
said, "since they sent their Chief of Defense to the meeting,
I have to assume they are sincere."
HANKINS
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID/W:KSHARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID PTER MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: PRESIDENT AZIZ ON TERRORISM AND
EXTREMISM
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 569
Classified By: CDA Dennis Hankins for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) During the Ambassador's August 8 call on President
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on other matters, Aziz spoke about
the terrorist and extremist threats facing Mauritania. Aziz
focused first on the internal drivers of extremism, telling
the Ambassador that disgruntled youth were driven to
extremism and, in some cases, to Al Qaeda in the Maghreb
(AQIM) by "poor governance, bad national leadership,
corruption, and a weak judiciary" -- all areas he said his
government would address.
2. (C) Aziz saw the proximity of AQIM bases in northern Mali
as a serious threat and one that has the potential of
becoming a trans-Sahara threat if not addressed now when it
was still manageable. He noted that while AQIM was not a
significantly large force now, it will grow "if it keeps
getting a few million here, and a few million there, from
ransom payments." Seeing that cash inflow as a way for AQIM
to both conduct more operations and entice new members, Aziz
said, "we need to prevent it from replicating itself." Aziz
added, "I know we can't eradicate terrorism, but we are
committed to combating it."
3. (C) Aziz was confident AQIM could be contained but
stressed it needed a regional approach. In that vein, he
voiced doubts about Malian commitment to the fight noting
Bamako had previously been "at peace" with AQIM to avoid
attacks on its territory -- but at the cost of forgoing
potential mineral exploration in its northern areas. Aziz
indicated he would meet Malian President Toure following
Ramadan to get a better feel for Malian commitment (Comment:
It was not clear if he meant a bilateral visit or as part of
the long-anticipated trans-Sahel security meeting. End
Comment).
4. (C) Aziz' concerns echoed those of Chief of Defense
General Ghazwany who met with the Ambassador, DATT, and
AFRICOM visitors on August 1. As reported in greater detail
in DAO channels, Ghazwany noted that AQIM in northern Mali is
still a force of a few hundred fighters and maybe twenty
vehicles. While the vast desert is a tough area to conduct
military operations, he noted "it doesn't offer the hiding
places of an Afghanistan." Ghazwany welcomed the Algerian
initiative for cooperation between Algeria, Mauritania, Mali,
and Niger. The four armies working together could take on
the AQIM threat, he felt. That stated, Ghazwany said he
wanted to see concrete actions coming out of the nice
declarations coming out of the Algeria meeting. He too
questioned whether Mali was really committed to the fight but
said, "since they sent their Chief of Defense to the meeting,
I have to assume they are sincere."
HANKINS