MALIAN SECURITY SERVICE ARRESTS CHEIBANI OULD HAMA

S E C R E T BAMAKO 000075 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020 TAGS: PINS PREL PTER ML SUBJECT: MALIAN SECURITY SERVICE ARRESTS CHEIBANI OULD HAMA Classified By: Political Counselor Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) On February 2, 2010, Malian security forces apprehended Cheibani ould Hama (a.k.a. Alhassan ould Mohammed). Cheibani has been accused of participating in the kidnappings of four western tourists along the Mali/Niger border in late December 2008/early January 2009. These were later sold to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Cheibani is also implicated in the kidnapping of Kounta chief Baba ould Sidi Elmoctar. He is in addition the prime suspect in the murders of USDAO-Niamey employee William Bultmeier in December 2000 and in the killing of four Saudi nationals in Niger in December 2009. ¶2. (S) Three Embassy contacts have stated that Malian security forces, probably the DGSE (Mali's intelligence service),arrested Cheibani in Gao, Mali. One source stated that members of his ethnic fraction (from Kidal) arrested Cheibani and turned him over to the DGSE, but was unwilling to provide further information. ¶3. (S/NF) The Saudi Embassy to Bamako appears to have exerted pressure on the GOM to capture Cheibani. Saudi Ambassador Fawaz Meshel Al Timyat told POL and TDY LEGATT that King Abdallah calls frequently for an update on the case. Al Timyat also said he spoke directly with Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT),Minister of Internal Security Gassama Sadio, and DGSE Chief Colonel Mamadou Coulibaly about Cheibani both before and after the arrest. He believed the DGSE arrested Cheibani in Kidal and transferred him first to Gao and then to Bamako over a two day period. (Note: To the best of Post,s knowledge, Cheibani was arrested in Gao, not Kidal. End note.) Al Timyat explained to the GOM that relations between his government and the GOM would be very strained were Cheibani not apprehended and justice not delivered. ¶4. (S/NF) LEGATT explained to Al Timyat that the Bultmeier case was still open, and the USG was interested in coordinating with the Saudi Government regarding Cheibani. Al Timyat said his government is interested in obtaining from Cheibani information regarding his accomplices as well as an admission of guilt. Al Timyat said his government does not intend to request the extradition of Cheibani to Saudi Arabia, or to Niger, where the crime against the Saudis was committed. ¶5. (S/NF) Al Timyat said it was important that the identity of the Cheibani in custody is verified to be the same Cheibani who committed the attack on Saudi citizens. He twice brought up a rumor that Cheibani had been declared dead after being imprisoned in 2001-2002. Legatt told Al Timyat that if the USG were granted access to the fingerprints of the Cheibani in DGSE custody, the USG would be able to confirm his identity using the fingerprints taken during Cheibani's first imprisonment. MILOVANOVIC