US embassy cable - 05GABORONE346

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000346 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB/ESC/TFS (DAVID NELSON), S/CT (TODD KUSHNER), IO/PSC 
(JOLEEN SCHWEITZER), AF/S (JACK DIFFILY), TREASURY (JUAN 
ZARATE), OFAC (ROBERT WERNER), EB/EPPD (CAROL THOMPSON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015 
TAGS: KTFN, KVPR, EFIN, PTER, ETTC, PREL, CVIS, BC, Counter-Terrorism 
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE 2005 UPDATE NO. 2 - BOTSWANA 
 
REF: STATE 32688 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH HUGGINS FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D 
 
1. (U)  The following is post's response to reftel request 
for an evaluation of the host government's ability to 
cooperate in the disruption of terrorist financing.  Answers 
below are keyed to questions in reftel. 
 
2. (U)  A.  As yet, the GOB has not identified any assets 
within Botswana subject to freezing, forfeiture or seizure 
pursuant to UNSC Resolutions 1267 and 1373. 
 
3. (C)  B.  The GOB lacks coherent and comprehensive AML-CTF 
legislation, a fully fledged financial intelligence unit, and 
personnel sufficiently trained in investigating international 
transactions.  Until recently, the GOB lacked a single body 
to coordinate counter-terrorism issues among all agencies. 
In late 2004, the GOB began the process of establishing such 
an overarching committee.  This committee, chaired by the 
Permanent Secretary to the President, will include 
sub-committees on topics such as money laundering.  Once 
fully functional, this committee should help focus attention 
on counter-terrorism and facilitate enhanced interaction with 
the GOB on this subject. 
 
4. (U)  C.  The GOB has requested technical assistance from 
Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) to combat 
money laundering and the financing of terrorism.  It 
specifically asked for help in assessing the possibilities 
for consolidating the existing legislation relevant to 
AML-CTF into one comprehensive bill, conducting a feasibility 
study for establishing a fully fledged financial intelligence 
unit, and providing capacity building, such as training in 
the investigation of international financial transactions.  A 
team from OTA (Enforcement) plans to visit Botswana March 
20-25 to consult with stakeholders on possibilities for 
initiating such assistance. 
 
5. (U)  D.  Currently, Botswana is at low risk for use as a 
site for significant fund raising or banking services.  The 
population sympathetic to Al Qa'ida/Usama bin Laden/Taliban 
is negligible.  The international financial services sector 
in Botswana is only beginning to emerge.  Given Botswana's 
slim population and small economy, raising or moving 
significant amounts of money without attracting attention 
would be difficult. 
HUGGINS