US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI651

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000651 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, ASEC, DJ 
SUBJECT: SECURITY CONCERNS IN LIGHT OF ATTACKS IN SAUDI 
ARABIA 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Marguerita D. Ragsdale for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with Minister of 
Cooperation, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, May 3, to discuss 
Embassy concerns in light of the attack in Yanbu, 
Saudi Arabia, on May 1st.  Ambassador explained that 
the Embassy has assessed that its security posture 
should remain the same but raised concern about the 
potential for violent public reaction in Djibouti. 
Youssouf expressed the Government of Djibouti's shared 
concern in maintaining the peace and security of U.S. 
citizens in country.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador spoke with Minister of Cooperation, 
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, on potential security 
concerns for the Embassy and American citizens in light 
of the terrorist attack in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and 
recent televised reports of prisoner mistreatment in 
Iraq.  Ambassador was clear that security measures at 
the Embassy were deemed adequate and should remain the 
same, but the attack in Yanbu raised concern about 
the possibility of smaller scale attacks.  Ambassador 
said that because of publicly expressed concerns 
that the attack in Yanbu may have been a reaction to 
televised reports in the Arab world of mistreatment of 
Iraqi detainees, she wanted to ensure that everyone is 
on the same page in terms of support of security 
related measures.  Ambassador states that she was 
unsure if the attack in Yanbu is an indication of a 
new trend of attacks aimed at smaller Western targets, 
rather than a group, or an anomaly. 
 
3. (C) Youssouf responded that the government understood 
the concerns and stated, for example, that it was not 
in the common interest of Djibouti and the U.S. to 
encourage public demonstrations because of their tendency 
to get out of hand.  He explained that in Djibouti City all 
of the vital government targets are located so close 
together that if something was triggered at one site, all 
would be in danger.  He agreed that security is a concern 
in light of the Yanbu incident and reports of prisoner 
mistreatment.  Youssouf said that while popular upheaval 
of this kind may be possible in other locations, 
Djiboutians have not had a history of such expressive 
feelings.  He commented that there was indeed a feeling of 
dismay and sympathy but the culture of Djibouti is more 
reflective and less spontaneous in their reactions. 
 
4. (C) Youssouf continued that he had just been at the 
National Assembly answering questions about the benefit 
Djibouti derives from the American presence.  It is 
important, he said, to remind the Djiboutian people of 
this.  He said the American image in Djibouti is quite 
good and that the government is engaged in a campaign 
to promote the good that the Americans have done.  The 
Government hopes that it will show the American interest 
in Djibouti as that of a friend and not possessing 
hegemonic intentions.  Youssouf indicated, however, his 
view that the more Iraq stabilizes, the less likely events 
such as Yanbu will occur.  He continued that stability 
needed to come as quickly as possible to Iraq. 
RAGSDALE