US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI514

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000514 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OSAC 
ADDIS ABABA, NAIROBI AND ASMARA FOR RSO 
CJTF HOA FOR ATFP, J-2, J2X AND PASS TO MARCENT FOR ATFP 
AND S-2 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: RECENT CRIME ACTIVITY IS CAUSE FOR 
CONCERN 
 
 
1. (SBU) A rash of recent criminal activity has sparked worry 
among Embassy personnel, both American and LES alike. 
Although the incidents do not indicate a crime wave, they are 
definitely cause for concern and caution. 
 
2. (SBU) In the past two weeks, Post has seen three different 
acts of violent crime that are generally not associated with 
living in Djibouti. 
 
- A local national was convicted of attempted rape against 
the spouse of an American citizen assigned to an NGO in 
country.  The Djiboutian man, who was employed as a gardener 
for the family, coerced his way into the residence of the 
American under the guise that he needed aspirin for a 
headache.  The spouse, unsuspecting of her employee, allowed 
the man in their residence.  The man, knowing that the 
husband was away on business, took the woman hostage for 
several hours at knife point.  During the ordeal, the man 
groped and fondled the woman making threatening gestures with 
the knife as if to cause her harm, but was never successful 
in actually carrying out the rape.  The man departed of his 
own will, but remained within the perimeter of the residence 
making sure that the woman was aware of his presence.  The 
man was apprehended and remanded the next morning.  The 
Djiboutian court system proceeded with a speedy trial which 
resulted in a conviction and sentencing of 2 years in prison. 
RSO and ConOff were instrumental in persuading Djiboutian 
authorities to proceed quickly. 
 
- A local national is being held on one count of murder and 
another count of attempted murder.  An American Embassy local 
guard was stabbed to death by the husband of the guard's 
cousin.  When the local guard returned home from Mosque he 
encountered his cousin's husband waiting for him.  It is 
believed that at this time he began a family discussion with 
his assailant, at which time the assailant pulled out a large 
knife and stabbed the guard numerous times until he was dead. 
 After killing the guard, the assailant proceeded to his 
wife's home (the cousin of our local guard) and attempted to 
kill her with the same weapon.  It is unclear whether the 
assailant stopped of his own volition or whether he was 
stopped by neighbors.  The woman was transported to the local 
hospital where she is in critical condition.  RSO is closely 
following up the case with Djiboutian law enforcement.  It 
must be noted that the assailant was previously convicted of 
murder less than 5 years earlier and only served a 2 year 
sentence as a result of family restitution based on tribal 
law. 
 
- An American Embassy local guard was assaulted while on his 
way to work by a group of bandits.  The local guard was 
confronted by several men (numbers are unknown at this time) 
while walking to work on his normal route.  After taunting 
the guard, one of the bandits struck the guard at which time 
the other men joined in on the assault.  The Guard was badly 
injured suffering bruises and cuts to include a stab wound to 
his right arm.  The bandits took whatever money the guard had 
on him and his watch and then fled the area.  RSO is also 
following up with the Police on this case. 
 
3. (SBU) In and of themselves, these incidents do not 
indicate a dramatic increase in violent crimes, but added to 
the many informal reports received, from several different 
sources throughout the year, it is only logical to concede 
that as the American presence in country continues to grow so 
will the attacks on our citizens.  RSO will continue to work 
closely with Host Nation security services to monitor crime, 
but the capabilities of the security services and their 
reporting mechanisms are less than efficient or accurate. 
 
4. (U) POC is RSO Marc Ramos at 253-35-39-95. 
RAGSDALE