Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE37566
2009-04-16 14:17:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

(S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: WEST AFRICA

Tags:  PINR KSPR ECON CD CV GA ML MR NG SG UV 
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R 161417Z APR 09
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TO AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY BANJUL 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 
AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
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AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
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AMCONSUL LAGOS 
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S E C R E T STATE 037566 


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2034
TAGS: PINR KSPR ECON CD CV GA ML MR NG SG UV
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: WEST AFRICA
SAHEL REGION

REF: A. 08 STATE 124337

B. 04 STATE 179667

Classified By: CATHERINE BROWN, DAS IPC. REASON: 1.4(C).

S E C R E T STATE 037566


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2034
TAGS: PINR KSPR ECON CD CV GA ML MR NG SG UV
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: WEST AFRICA
SAHEL REGION

REF: A. 08 STATE 124337

B. 04 STATE 179667

Classified By: CATHERINE BROWN, DAS IPC. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) This cable provides the full text of the new
National HUMINT Collection Directive (NHCD) on the West
Africa Sahel region (paragraph 3-end) as well as a request
for continued DOS reporting of biographic information
relating to the West Africa Sahel region (paragraph 2).


A. (S/NF) The NHCD below supercedes the NHCD contained in Ref
B and reflects the results of a recent Washington review of
reporting and collection needs focused on the West Africa
Sahel region (Ref A). The review produced a comprehensive
list of strategic priorities (paragraph 3) and reporting and
collection needs (paragraph 4) intended to guide
participating USG agencies as they allocate resources and
update plans to collect information on the West Africa Sahel
region. The priorities should also serve as a useful tool to
help the Embassy manage reporting and collection, including
formulation of Mission Strategic Plans (MSPs).


B. (S/NF) This NHCD is compliant with the National
Intelligence Priorities Framework (NIPF),which was
established in response to NSPD-26 of February 24, 2003. If
needed, GRPO can provide further background on the NIPF and
the use of NIPF abbreviations (shown in parentheses following
each sub-issue below) in NHCDs.


C. (S/NF) Important information often is available to
non-State members of the Country Team whose agencies
participated in the review of this National HUMINT Collection
Directive. COMs, DCMs, and State reporting officers can
assist by coordinating with other Country Team members to
encourage relevant reporting through their own or State
Department channels.


2. (S/NF) State biographic reporting:


A. (S/NF) The intelligence community relies on State
reporting officers for much of the biographical information
collected worldwide. Informal biographic reporting via email
and other means is vital to the community's collection

efforts and can be sent to the INR/B (Biographic) office for
dissemination to the IC.


B. (S/NF) Reporting officers should include as much of the
following information as possible when they have information
relating to persons linked to the West Africa Sahel region:
office and organizational titles; names, position titles and
other information on business cards; numbers of telephones,
cell phones, pagers and faxes; compendia of contact
information, such as telephone directories (in compact disc
or electronic format if available) and e-mail listings;
internet and intranet "handles", internet e-mail addresses,
web site identification-URLs; credit card account numbers;
frequent flyer account numbers; work schedules, and other
relevant biographical information.


3. (S/NF) Priority issues and issues outline:

This directive covers eight countries of Sahelian West
Africa: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, The Gambia, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal. The coastal countries to the
south (Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote
d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin) are covered separately in
the West Africa Littoral directive.


I. Regional Issues


A. Security
1) International Terrorism (TERR)
2) Response To Terrorism (TERR)
3) Military (FMCC)
4) Support for U.S. Military Contingency Planning (HREL)
5) Insurgent and Separatist Groups (SRCC)
6) Relations With The United States (FPOL)
7) Drug Trafficking (DRUG)
8) Peacekeeping (SRCC)
9) GRPO can provide text of this issue.


B. Governance
1) Leadership (LEAD)
2) Government Stability and Support For Democracy (DEPS)
3) Human Rights (HRWC)
4) Political Opposition (DEPS)


C. Socio-Economic Issues
1) Agriculture and Food Security (FOOD)
2) Foreign Aid and Relations (FPOL)
3) Criminal Activities (CRIM)
4) Health and Infectious Diseases (HLTH)
5) Population and Refugee Issues (DEMG)
6) Economic Institutions and Initiatives (ECFS)
7) Environmental Issues (ENVR)


D. Information Systems and Telecommunications Infrastructure
(INFR)

II. Country-Specific Issues


A. Chad: Sudan/Darfur Issues (SRCC-2)


4. (S/NF) Reporting and collection needs:


I. Regional Issues


A. Security

1) International Terrorism (TERR).
-- Details, presence, and activities related to al-Qa'ida in
the land of the Islamic Maghreb and other terrorist-related
individuals and organizations.
-- Plans and intentions for operations against U.S. or
allied personnel or interests.
-- Links to weapons of mass destruction or related
materials.
-- Presence and activities of fighters returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan.
-- Information on organizations, leadership, personnel,
tradecraft, intelligence and counterintelligence
capabilities, financing, front companies, recruitment, and
training.
-- Weapons and methodologies, particularly for improvised
explosive devices.
-- Details about local support networks, particularly for
transshipments.
-- Details about couriers operating in, or originating
outside of, the region.
-- Presence and activities of non-North African fighters in
the region.
-- Indications that international terrorist groups are
seeking to take advantage of political, ethnic, tribal, or
religious conflict.
-- Health, biographic, biometric, and assessment information
on leaders.

NIPF Priority for TERR
Chad: 1, Mali: 1, Mauritania: 1, Niger: 1

NIPF Priority for Non-State Actors for TERR
Al-Qa'ida and Sunni Affiliates: 1, Hizballah (Lebanese): 1,
Jama'at Tablighi: 3

HUMINT Priority for TERR
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Senegal: 5H

2) Response To Terrorism (TERR).
-- Capability, willingness and intent of countries to
cooperate with U.S. counterterrorism (CT) efforts and
policies, and to conduct counterterrorist operations.
-- Details about CT legislation, organizations,
capabilities, equipment, operations, tactics, and limitations.
-- Data regarding the impact of U.S. and multilateral
economic sanctions
-- Policies, attitudes, and actions regarding U.S. and other
western CT training.
-- Military and security forces' attitudes towards CT
training and operations.
-- Interaction and interoperability of security and military
forces with foreign CT forces.
-- Public attitudes towards CT policies and activities.
-- Plans to deploy biometric systems to enhance domestic
counterterrorism efforts.

NIPF Priority for TERR
Chad: 1, Mali: 1, Mauritania: 1, Niger: 1

NIPF Priority for Non-State Actors for TERR
Al-Qa'ida and Sunni Affiliates: 1, Hizballah (Lebanese): 1,
Jama'at Tablighi: 3

HUMINT Priority for TERR
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Senegal: 5H

3) Military (FMCC)
-- Plans, intentions, status and details of the national
defense policy and strategy.
-- Military relations with other countries, including
training exercises.
-- Capabilities, disposition, vulnerabilities, and readiness
of forces.
-- Details about military personnel, units, equipment, and
tactics.
-- Plans and efforts regarding military reform, procurement,
and modernization.
-- Government cooperation regarding U.S. POW/MIAs and
detained U.S. citizens.
-- Evidence of coup plotting in military ranks.
-- Evidence of criminal activity in military ranks and
impact.
-- Extent and effects of ethnic, religious, and political
factions within the military.
-- Public attitudes towards the military and other security
forces.
-- Details of covert arms acquisitions and arms sales.

NIPF Priority for FMCC
Chad: 3, Mali: 4, Mauritania: 4, Niger: 4, Senegal: 4

HUMINT Priority for FMCC
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H

4) Support for U.S. Military Contingency Planning
(HREL).
-- Plans, intentions, and capability of host governments to
support evacuation or humanitarian assistance by U.S. forces,
including host nations' ability and willingness to protect
U.S. citizens and/or facilities.
-- Internal developments that could prompt U.S. contingency
planning for Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) or
humanitarian assistance.
-- Host government's emergency management capabilities and
points-of-contact.
-- Details about infrastructure, medical facilities, and
communication networks.
-- Geocoordinates and description of third-country
diplomatic, humanitarian aid, and non-governmental
organization (NGO) facilities.
-- Evacuation routes, including official/unofficial
checkpoints, chokepoints, and potential impediments.

NIPF Priority for HREL
Chad: 3, Niger: 5

HUMINT Priority for HREL
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Mauritania: 5H, Senegal: 5H

5) Insurgent and Separatist Groups (SRCC).
-- Plans, intentions, and capabilities of separatist,
insurgent or radical opposition groups or organizations to
influence or destabilize host country government.
-- Clandestine efforts to subvert peace accords and
reconciliation efforts.
-- Plans and intentions relating to U.S. citizens and
military personnel in the region.
-- Leadership, organization, recruitment and training,
tactics, sources of financing, and Command, Control,
Communications, Computer, and Intelligence capabilities.
-- Goals and attitudes toward peace accords and
reconciliation efforts.
-- Links to foreign governments and non-state actors in
foreign countries.
-- Public support for groups.
-- Links to international terrorist groups.
-- Health, biographic, biometric, and assessment information
on leaders.

NIPF Priority for SRCC
Chad: 2

HUMINT Priority for SRCC
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 4H,
Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 4H, Senegal: 5H

6) Relations with the United States (FPOL).
-- Plans and intentions of government and government
leaders concerning relations with the United States,
including plans and efforts to support or oppose U.S.
policies and efforts in international fora.
-- Decision-making, policies, plans, negotiating strategies,
and efforts, particularly regarding Burkina Faso.
-- Impact of relations with China on relations with the
United States.
-- Public opinion about U.S. actions in Africa, particularly
regarding the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation foreign aid program.
-- Response to U.S. policies regarding the Sahel region, the
Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and the global war on
terror.
-- Impact of trade relations with India and Brazil on
relations with the United States.

HUMINT Priority for FPOL
Burkina Faso: 3H, Cape Verde: 5H, Chad: 4H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 3H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 4H

7) Drug Trafficking (DRUG).
-- Government plans and intentions regarding drug production
and trafficking.
-- Use of transportation networks for drug production,
trafficking, or storage.
-- Details about types of drugs trafficked and associated
transportation networks and seizures.
-- Details about front companies, financial institutions,
and money flow.
-- Links to international terrorist groups.
-- Links to drug producers outside of region, particularly
Latin American cocaine cartels.
-- Links to regional or international drug distribution
networks.
-- Law enforcement and judiciary capabilities to combat drug
trafficking and production.
-- Drug traffickers' efforts to corrupt or undermine law
enforcement and government.
-- Presence, use, or transshipment of precursor chemicals
and associated equipment for drug production.
-- Information about terrorist or insurgent groups' income
derived from the drug trade, including drug types and
quantities.
-- Information on impact of drug trafficking and use,
particularly on public health and crime, and supporting
internal statistics.

NIPF Priority for DRUG
Senegal: 5

HUMINT Priority for DRUG
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 4H, Chad: 5H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 3H, Niger: 5H

8) Peacekeeping (SRCC).
-- Governments' plans and intentions to participate in or
support peacekeeping operations and funding allocated/spent.
-- Military and security forces' willingness and capability
to train with other nations and participate in peacekeeping
operations, and details of peacekeeping experience.
-- Military and security forces' capabilities and
willingness to accept international military assistance and
joint training.
-- Perception of troops' performance during peacekeeping
operations.

NIPF Priority for SRCC
Chad: 2

HUMINT Priority for SRCC
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 4H,
Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 5H

9) GRPO can provide text of this issue and related
requirements.


B. Governance

1) Leadership (LEAD).
-- Key issues of concern to national and opposition
leadership, particularly dynamics and decision-making
processes of key civilian and military officials and of
ruling political parties, including coup plotting.
-- Attitude toward political opposition.
-- Personal financial resources, financial institutions
used, and personal relationships.
-- Biographic data, including opinions about the United
States.

HUMINT Priority for LEAD
Burkina Faso: 3H, Cape Verde: 5H, Chad: 3H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 3H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 4H

2) Government Stability and Support For Democracy
(DEPS).
-- Internal or external threats to government stability,
democracy, or rule of law, including government efforts to
address these threats.
-- Government control over national territory and borders,
including areas where government authority is weak or absent.
-- Commitment to representative government and democratic
reforms, particularly during election cycle.
-- Laws, policies, and prospects for political succession
and elections.
-- Details on corruption and anti-corruption measures.
-- Drivers of, and responses to, political instability or
economic deterioration.
-- Details on administrative, judicial, and legislative
organs and related decision-making.
-- Signs of ethnic, religious, or generational polarization
and impact on decision-making.
-- Political and social infrastructure development in remote
regions.

NIPF Priority for DEPS
Chad: 4, Mauritania: 5, Senegal: 5

HUMINT Priority for DEPS
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Niger: 5H

3) Human Rights (HRWC).
-- Details of human rights abuses by intelligence and
security services, military, paramilitary, police, or other
officials, or by insurgent, separatist, or other groups.
-- Details of government efforts and capability to prevent
or respond to abuses.
-- Government reaction to foreign and domestic criticism of
alleged human rights abuses.
-- Details of alleged disenfranchisement or enslavement of
individuals or groups, including government complicity or
inaction.
-- Government relationship with international peacekeeping
and aid organizations.

NIPF Priority for HRWC
Chad: 2, Mauritania: 5, Niger: 5

HUMINT Priority for HRWC
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 4H, Mali: 5H,
Senegal: 5H

4) Political Opposition (DEPS).
-- Plans, intentions, and role of opposition parties in
political system, including intention to use extra-legal
means to depose government.
-- Activities, plans, intentions, and sources of funding and
support.
-- Leadership, organization, agendas, membership, and level
of influence.
-- Plans and intentions related to the election cycle.
-- Alliances, factions, and evidence of links to foreign
governments or insurgent/separatist groups.
-- Opinions of ethnic, religious, and other population
groups towards the government and political opposition.

NIPF Priority for DEPS
Chad: 4, Mauritania: 5, Senegal: 5

HUMINT Priority for DEPS
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Niger: 5H


C. Socio-Economic Issues

1) Agriculture and Food Security (FOOD).
-- Government plans and actions regarding agricultural
output, food security, and food safety.
-- Willingness to cooperate with U.N. and other donor
agencies on food-related issues.
-- Details about food prices and food trade and public
reaction to increasing food prices.
-- Indications of environmental factors affecting
agricultural output.
-- Government policies and initiatives to increase
agricultural producer income.
-- Status of, and prospects for, cash and subsistence crops.
-- Indications of invasive species affecting food security
or development.
-- Details about manipulation of food aid by government or
warlords to enhance power.

NIPF Priority for FOOD
Chad: 5

HUMINT Priority for FOOD
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 5H

2) Foreign Aid and Relations (FPOL).
-- Governments' and leaders' views on foreign nations and
international organizations, particularly China, Iran, and
India.
-- Foreign alliances, aid, and activities, including those
withheld from public view.
-- Details on international trade issues and economic
assistance needs and requests.
-- Governments' actions and intentions regarding existing
U.S. Status of Forces Agreements and the Rome Convention's
International Criminal Court (Article 98).

HUMINT Priority for FPOL
Burkina Faso: 3H, Cape Verde: 5H, Chad: 4H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 4H

3) Criminal Activities (CRIM).
-- Details of corruption and cross-border criminal activity,
including weapons trafficking, human trafficking, alien
smuggling, illicit finance, and cigarette smuggling. --
Government and law enforcement plans and intentions to combat
criminal activity.
-- Organizations, activities, methodologies, alliances, and
vulnerabilities.
-- Cooperation with terrorist or insurgent groups.
-- Key investors, facilitators, beneficiaries, and corrupt
officials.

HUMINT Priority for CRIM
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 4H, Chad: 5H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 4H, Mauritania: 3H, Niger: 4H, Senegal: 5H

4) Health and Infectious Diseases (HLTH).
-- Details of infectious diseases and general health
conditions, including number of cases, percentage of
population affected, fatalities, dates, areas of occurrence,
and impact.
-- Government policies, plans, and efforts for disease
prevention and identification.
-- Nutrition-related health of population, including
refugees.
-- Vaccination practices, capabilities, and response related
to drug-resistant and Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases,
particularly polio and tuberculosis.
-- Effect of HIV/AIDS or other diseases on military,
government, or economic performance.
-- Public attitudes towards disease prevention and treatment
programs.
-- Indications of infectious plant, animal, or zoonotic
diseases (animal to human transmission) with potential
economic or public health consequences.
-- Details about contaminated food, water, air, and soil.
-- Information on medical facilities, including capabilities
and training.

NIPF Priority for HLTH
Chad: 4

HUMINT Priority for HLTH
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 5H

5) Population and Refugee Issues (DEMG).
-- Population movements in the region, and governments'
involvement and response.
-- Indications of actual or potential refugee movements
within or into the region.
-- Locations and conditions of refugee camps and informal
refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) gathering
sites and transit routes.
-- Government capability and willingness to assist refugees
and IDPs.
-- Health and demographic statistics of refugees and IDPs.
-- Dynamics and impact of migration and demographic shifts.
-- Efforts to repatriate refugees.

NIPF Priority for DEMG
Chad: 3, Mali: 4, Mauritania: 4, Niger: 4

HUMINT Priority for DEMG
Burkina Faso: 4H, Cape Verde: 4H, The Gambia: 4H, Senegal: 4H

6) Economic Institutions and Initiatives (ECFS).
-- Policies, strategies, and efforts to improve economic
growth.
-- Leadership views on economic, trade, and fiscal policies
and regulatory enforcement.
-- Identities and roles of governments' economic
policy-making and regulatory bodies/officials.
-- Macroeconomic statistics regarding trade, budget, balance
of payments, and national economies, including reliability or
manipulation of data.
-- Public perception of economic conditions, including youth
employment prospects.
-- Nature and extent of underground banking systems.
-- Details on economic assistance needs and partnerships,
and effectiveness of aid.
-- Financial data transmission systems and accounting
methods.
-- Details of natural resource development activities,
including financing.

HUMINT Priority for ECFS
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, Chad: 5H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 4H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 5H

7) Environmental Issues (ENVR).
-- Details of plans and efforts by governments, NGOs, and
others to combat deforestation and desertification, including
the Great Green Wall project.
-- Governments' willingness and ability to manage
exploitation of natural resources and respond to natural and
man-made environmental disasters.
-- Capability and willingness to protect nearby sea lanes,
and fishing grounds and other Exclusive Economic Zone claims.
-- Negotiating positions at international environmental
meetings.
-- Government and public perceptions regarding environmental
issues.

NIPF Priority for ENVR
Niger: 5

HUMINT Priority for ENVR
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, Chad: 4H, The Gambia: 5H,
Mali: 5H, Mauritania: 5H, Senegal: 5H


D. Information Systems and Telecommunications Infrastructure
(INFR).

-- Current specifications, vulnerabilities, capabilities,
and planned upgrades to, national telecommunications
infrastructure and information systems, command and control
systems, networks, and technologies used by government,
military, and private sector.
-- National leadership use of, and dependencies on,
dedicated telecommunications infrastructures and information
systems.
-- Details about national and regional telecommunications
policies, programs, regulations, service providers, vendors,
and training.
-- Details about internet and intranet use, infrastructure,
and government oversight.
-- Plans and efforts to acquire U.S. export-controlled
telecommunications technology.
-- Details about information repositories for Radio
Frequency Identification-enabled systems used for passports,
government badges, and transportation systems.
-- Official and personal phone numbers, fax numbers, and
e-mail addresses of principal civilian and military leaders.

NIPF Priority for INFR
Chad: 4

HUMINT Priority for INFR
Burkina Faso: 5H, Cape Verde: 5H, The Gambia: 5H, Mali: 5H,
Mauritania: 5H, Niger: 5H, Senegal: 5H

II. Country-Specific Issues


A. Chad: Sudan/Darfur Issues (SRCC-2).

-- Details about Sudanese-backed insurgency in Chad and
Chadian-backed insurgency in Sudan and related population
movements.
-- Indications of actual or potential refugee or IDP
movements, especially Sudanese and Central African Republic
refugees.
-- Human rights abuses against refugees currently located in
Chad.
-- Government's political will and intention to engage
Sudanese-backed separatists.
-- Military capability to combat Sudanese-backed separatists.
-- Role of international institutions in stabilizing
domestic uprising.
-- Details about Chadian insurgents' relationship with the
Government of Sudan.
-- Details about the government's relationship with Sudanese
insurgents in Darfur.
-- Presence or activities of international terrorist groups
in insurgencies.


CLINTON