INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Cote D'ivoire: 2006 Country Report On Terrorism

Published: Tue 19 Dec 2006 04:53 PM
VZCZCXYZ0026
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHAB #1393 3531653
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191653Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2321
INFO RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS ABIDJAN 001393
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
S/CT FOR RHONDA SHORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PGOV IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
1. General Assessment: Cote d'Ivoire does not engage in any
major counterterrorism efforts as terrorist groups are not
known to be present and thus terrorist activity is not a
percieved threat in this country. Cote d'Ivoire has been in
the throes of a political-military crisis since 2002 which
has left the country politically and geographically divided.
Despite the instability in country, violence associated with
the division has not been associated with any international
terrorist organizations, and there is little evidence to
indicate threat of terrorist attacks. It is likely that Cote
d'Ivoire will cooperate in extraditing known terrorists
should such a case arise. The judicial system would likely
respond cooperatively in assisting with U.S. counter
terrorist efforts. Cote d'Ivoire does not provide political
or financial support to any known international terrorist
organization. While some Lebanese private communities living
in Cote d'Ivoire are known to be active in donating personal
income to Hizballah, it is unlikely that the government of
Cote d'Ivoire (GOCI) supports or subsidizes this, allthough
it is likely that the GOCI is aware of this. The GOCI does
not provide diplomatic support through recognition or
privileges to any international terrorist organization, and
Cote d'Ivoire is not a safe haven for terrorist groups. It
is unlikely that Cote d'Ivoire's military and technical
services would or could provide weapons of mass destruction
or assistance in obtaining or developing such weapons to
terrorist organization.
2. Safe Haven Assessment: The safe haven assessment
examines the extent of knowledge by the GOCI about terrorist
activities in country and actions taken by the GOCI with
regard to antiterrorist measures. As the GOCI is primarily
engaged in resolving the ongoing political crisis, the focus
of intelligence in Cote d'Ivoire is directed within the
region. As such, both the government-controlled southern
regions and the rebel-held northern areas are tightly
observed by their respective ruling political parties, and it
is probable that the GOCI would be aware of terrorist
activities were they to exist.
Actions taken by the GOCI with regard to eliminating
terrorist safe havens, cooperating with U.S. antiterrorism
efforts and/or preventing the proliferation and trafficking
in weapons of mass destruction through the territory of the
country are difficult to evaluate as international terrorism
and proliferation or trafficking of weapons of mass
destruction are not considered likely threats in Cote
d'Ivoire. It is very likely that Cote d'Ivoire would
cooperate with U.S. antiterrorism efforts, especially in a
case concerning the welfare of U.S. Citizens. Cote d'Ivoire
is broadly supportive of
U.S. goals related to weapons of mass destruction.
3. Terrorist Groups/Organizations: It is important to note
that there has been little to no activity of known terrorist
groups in Cote d'Ivoire; there have been no known kidnapping
attempts against U.S. citizens during the preceding five
years, or any known attempts to obtain or develop any weapons
of mass destruction in Cote d'Ivoire. However, it is known
that select private Lebanese communities in West Africa
including Cote d'Ivoire are major donors to Hizballah and
associated entities. Hizballah is present within parts of
the population as a political movement, but is not considered
to actively engage in or plan for terrorist activities in
Cote d'Ivoire. There is no perceived threat from the
Hizballah-supporting private populations in Cote d'Ivoire and
no support from the GOCI, either financially or politically
for Hizballah. There have been no provisions of significant
military or paramilitary training or transfer of weapons by
GOCI to any known international terrorist group or provision
of diplomatic recognition or privileges by the GOCI to these
groups. Additionally, there has been no provision by the
GOCI of safe haven from prosecution to these groups, although
there have been no known cases of attempts by international
terrorist group to seek safe haven from prosecution in Cote
d'Ivoire.
4. Foreign Government Cooperation: In the last five years
there has not been a public case in which the U.S. has sought
cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of a specific
act of international terrorism against U.S. citizens or
interests.
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