Cablegate: 2007 Country Reports On Terrorism: Senegal

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDK #0114 0291123
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291123Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9939

UNCLAS DAKAR 000114

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/CT, AF/W, AF/RSA, AND INR/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KDRM KHLS AEMR SG
SUBJECT: 2007 Country Reports on Terrorism: Senegal

1. The following narrative is Posts submission for the 2007 Country
Terrorism Report (CTR):

Senegal

The Government of Senegal cooperated with the Untied States in
identifying terrorist groups operating in Senegal. More work
remained to be done, however, to develop first responder services,
to facilitate the quick sharing of information between agencies, and
to control porous borders where police and security services are
undermanned and ill-equipped to prevent illicit cross-border
trafficking. The Government of Senegal affirmed its commitment to
the United States government-assisted efforts to augment its border
security.

Senegal continues to enhance its ability to combat terrorism,
prosecute terror suspects, and respond to emergencies. Despite
advances, however, Senegal lacked specific counterterrorism
legislation and current laws made it difficult to prosecute terror
suspects. As participants in the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism
Partnership, more than 318 Senegalese government officials
participated in ATA programs. Senegalese military officials
attended a counterterrorism seminar in Rabat and attended the Chiefs
of Defense and Directors of Military Intelligence conferences. The
Defense International Institute of Legal Studies, the Department of
Justice, the U.S. Treasury's Office Technical Assistance, and the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) gave separate
seminars on the legal aspects of fighting terrorism.

Senegal did not provide safe haven for terrorists or terrorist
organizations. However, five Mauritanians who claim to be members
of Al-Qaeda and who were allegedly involved in the December 24, 2007
murder of four French tourists in Aleg, Mauritania successfully
traveled through Senegal before being captured in a hotel in
Guinea-Bissau by Bissau-Guinean police aided by French authorities
on January 12. The Mauritanians were able to cross four Senegalese
borders without being stopped by Senegalese authorities. This event
demonstrates Senegal's porous borders and lack of capacity to
effectively identify and combat terrorist threats and the need for
further training. Moreover, it is suspected that Hezbollah uses the
Lebanese community Senegal as a source of financing.
SMITH

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