US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1551

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001551 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2014 
TAGS: KCRM, PHUM, ASEC, ELAB, EAID, DJ 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DJIBOUTI REQUESTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
FOR HOST NATION LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 248009 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request. 
 
2. (C) Djibouti is a small East African nation with a stable 
government, but has porous borders and exists amid conflicts 
in neighboring Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. Djibouti is 
thus impacted negatively by the problem of large numbers of 
refugees and illegal immigrants. However, little trafficking 
in persons can be found. 
 
3. (C) The host government's primary focus is transnational 
terrorism and it has been consistently eager and cooperative 
in the Global War on Terrorism.  Yet, law enforcement 
capacity is at best limited. Despite Djibouti's strong will, 
identification, investigation, mitigation and prevention of 
transnational terrorism and illegal immigration are 
especially problematic with the present capacity. Djibouti's 
law enforcement is underfunded, suffers a lack of physical 
resources, and a distinct absence of professional 
development, research, and ability to train future forces. 
 
4. (C) Current anti-terrorism programs address immediate, 
short-term training needs, but fail to provide sustainability 
and long-term development of law enforcement agencies in 
Djibouti.  Post holds that proposals aimed at reinforcing 
overall capacity are preferable over those aimed at a single 
aspect of law enforcement problems in Djibouti. For example, 
a program that addresses the porous nature of Djibouti's 
borders with long-term sustainable law enforcement training 
would prevent transnational terrorism, trafficking in persons 
and illegal immigration and would better suit the needs of 
the host nation and the interests of the United States. 
 
5. (U) Action request: Post requests that INL consider 
developing a program that provides grass roots and academy 
training, enhances the long-term capacity of host country 
National Security Services, and allows for the professional 
development of law enforcement. 
RAGSDALE