EMBASSY MASERU PREPARES FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

UNCLAS MASERU 000030 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S, AF/EX, AF/PD, AND CA/EX DS FOR DS/DSS, DS/IP/A, AND DS/P/MECU JOHANNESBURG PASS TO RCO KENT MAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT CMGT CASC ASEC LT SUBJECT: EMBASSY MASERU PREPARES FOR 2010 WORLD CUP REF: STATE 7420 ¶1. SUMMARY: Embassy Maseru is preparing for an increase in consular and security workload as a result of the 2010 World Cup games, to be held from June 11 to July 11, 2010, at venues throughout South Africa. Post is collaborating with Mission South Africa on sharing information and strengthening security issues in Lesotho and is requesting additional support from CA for increased citizen services cases. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Embassy Maseru is preparing to address a projected increase in security incidents and consular services during the months surrounding the 2010 World Cup soccer games to be held in neighboring South Africa. Maseru is a 90 minute drive to one of the 2010 World Cup venues, Bloemfontein, and only a matter of hours from venues in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and Durban. Private organizations in Lesotho are taking advantage of the World Cup games to promote tourism in the country. Several tourist destinations, including backpacker lodges, have confirmed that accommodations are already completely booked during the months of May to August. Local travel companies have launched tourist packages between Lesotho and South African host cities that will provide accommodations in Lesotho for visitors attending nearby matches. Mission South Africa reports over 350,000 visitors are expected to visit South Africa for the World Cup and for tourism before and after the dates of the tournament (reftel). ¶3. Post's RSO is collaborating with Mission South Africa RSO and local host country police services to ensure that security and threat-related information is shared appropriately during the World Cup. RSO is also expanding security measures in and around areas where World Cup tourists are likely to visit, including conducting security surveys of hotels, restaurants, airports, shopping and sporting areas frequented by Americans. Additionally, personal security awareness checklists and security recommendations for all visiting Americans are available on the post's internet site. Post continues to encourage U.S. citizens living in or traveling to Lesotho to register with the Embassy through the Department of State's travel registration website. ¶4. With its close proximity to these World Cup venues, post is preparing to deal with the additional American citizen presence in Lesotho by minimizing visa services as necessary and by training backup officers and LES to assist in handling Special Citizen Services cases. To prepare for any possible large-scale crisis, post is also planning a tabletop crisis management exercise consular staff, including the local American citizen wardens, in March. Due to post's small size, with only 9 USDH State employees, we have requested TDY consular assistance for a six week period to assist with the anticipated increase in consular workload. ¶5. Post thanks Mission South Africa for including our staff in their regular internal briefings on South Africa's World Cup preparations, and we look forward to continuing to participate in this collaborative information sharing. NOLAN