VZCZCXRO7847
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2620/01 2350928
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230928Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7547
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR: DS/IP/AF, DS, IP/ITA, AF/E AND CA/OCS/ACS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER ET
SUBJECT: ADDIS ABABA EAC MEETS TO ASSESS SECURITY SITUATION RELATED 
TO THE ETHIOPIAN MILLENNIUM 
 
REF: STATE 80096 
 
¶1. (SBU) On August 22, the Addis Ababa Emergency Action Committee 
(EAC) met to assess the security situation in regards to the 
Ethiopian Millennium (celebrated September 12).  EAC members present 
included COM, A/DCM, ORA, DAO, CJTF HOA, POL/ECON, USAID, CDC, CONS, 
Peace Corps, Health Unit, MGT, PAS, the U.S. Mission to the African 
Union, MSG, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and RSO. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
THE MILLENNIUM VENUE - STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Thousands of visitors (primarily Ethiopians returning from 
the Diaspora) are expected to visit Ethiopia throughout the year for 
the Millennium celebrations (reftel).  The primary Millennium 
celebrations will occur the evening of September 11 at a large 
public venue in Addis Ababa near Bole International airport.  A 
recently constructed concrete, steel frame, and fiberglass structure 
(similar to an aircraft hanger) will serve as the main venue and is 
expected to accommodate 15,000-20,000 guests.  This structure will 
have two floors: the ground floor for the general public and a 
second-floor balcony for VIPs.  With a little more then three weeks 
to go, this venue still requires extensive construction (completion 
of the perimeter wall, site grading/preparation and completion of 
the building and other facilities).  According to event organizers, 
celebrations will be simulcast to large billboard-size televisions 
in at least two venues in Addis Ababa (one directly adjacent to the 
main venue and the other located at a major square/traffic 
intersection in the center of Addis Ababa), as well as to other 
similar venues throughout the country.  A private Millennium event 
will also be held at the Addis Ababa Sheraton hotel. 
 
¶3. (SBU) It is difficult to determine the number of visitors to 
Addis Ababa for the immediate Millennium period.  While many major 
hotels in Addis Ababa report being fully booked for the Millennium, 
and many home-owners are leasing their private residences to 
visitors, tickets for commercial air carriers into Ethiopia during 
this period are still available.  The Millennium celebrations will 
undoubtedly draw significant interest of the local population within 
Addis Ababa and the surrounding environs. 
 
---------------------- 
MILLENNIUM STAR SEARCH 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The musical band the Black Eyed Peas are also expected to 
perform in Addis during the Millennium.  Most local citizens will 
view the event for free at the two public venues.  Additionally, the 
Great Ethiopian Run will take place o/a September 9-10 and is 
expected to draw large crowds to Addis Ababa. 
 
 
----------------- 
SECURITY CONCERNS 
----------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Obviously there is concern among the Government of Ethiopia 
(GOE) regarding ensuring security for this event as well as 
throughout the city.  Not only is the current threat in the region 
high, but also this event falls on the anniversary of September 11 
and occurs when the GOE is actively engaged in military operations 
in Somalia and a counter-insurgency campaign in the volatile Ogaden 
region.  Possible threats include extremists from Somalia, the 
Ogadeni National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front 
(OLF), al-Qaeda (who publicly declared Ethiopia to be a viable 
target after Ethiopia's December 2006 military intervention in 
Somalia), Eritrea, and other indigenous terrorist/opposition groups. 
 The GOE assures us they are taking all necessary precautions to 
ensure security.  During the past several weeks, the GOE has stepped 
up vehicle inspection security check-points on all roads leading 
into Addis Ababa and reported the uncovering of two possible 
terrorist plots.  Increased police and security service presence was 
also noticeable in Addis Ababa.  Ensuring security for such a large 
and high profile event in the current threat environment would be a 
monumental task for any country, more so for Ethiopia with its law 
enforcement, defense and security services already heavily engaged 
on three fronts (Ogaden region, Somalia, and Eritrea). 
 
¶6. (SBU) The event organizers advise there will be access control 
and security screening at the primary Millennium venue.  It will be 
more difficult to secure the public Millennium venues, and even more 
difficult to secure the crowded streets and countless private 
entertainment venues. All these venues present viable and lucrative 
terrorist targets. 
 
-------------- 
WHAT WE EXPECT 
-------------- 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002620  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) While there is a good chance Ethiopia's Millennium 
celebration will pass without noteworthy incident, given the current 
threat in the region, this event poses a significant security 
concern and challenge.  In the best case scenario (nothing happens), 
the Embassy is anticipating the following security concerns: 
 
--Commercial communications (cell phone and land-lines) are 
disrupted or otherwise unavailable.  The large influx of visitors 
could easily over-burden commercial communications networks, making 
them unavailable.  In the past, the GOE has also cut off commercial 
communications networks (primarily cell phone) as a security 
measure; 
 
--Severe vehicular traffic and pedestrian congestion, making it 
difficult to easily move around the capital, Addis Ababa; 
 
--Road closures and security checkpoints; 
 
--Significantly enhanced host country police and security service 
presence around Addis Ababa and environs; 
 
--Enhanced security at major hotels; 
 
--Local cafes, night clubs, restaurants and other entertainment 
venues will most likely experience significantly increased 
patronage.  Most have little if any security; 
 
--Increased request for American citizen services from visitors who 
get into trouble, are the victims of crime, or who require other 
Embassy assistance; 
 
--Increased possibility of petty street crime; 
 
--Possibility of crowd control issues at the public venues; 
 
--Possibility of crowd and access control issues at the Millennium 
venue near the airport; 
 
--Possibility of increased motor vehicle accidents, especially late 
at night due to intoxicated drivers; 
 
--Delayed response due to traffic congestion of Embassy security and 
emergency response personnel to situations that arise. 
 
---------------- 
EMBASSY RESPONSE 
---------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The current Consular Affairs East Africa warning  cautions 
American citizens to avoid "prominent places."  The official 
Ethiopian Millennium celebration venues would most certainly fall 
into this category. In addition, the EAC deemed it prudent to advise 
official Americans to undertake the following precautions: 
 
--Do not attend or go to any of the public Millennium celebration 
venues.  If in Addis Ababa, stay close to home during the Millennium 
period; 
 
--Avoid prominent places and large crowds; 
 
--Embassy personnel who have a official representational requirement 
to attend the Millennium events will do so in an organized manner 
coordinated by the RSO, staying at the event for the shortest time 
possible in accordance with protocol and security concerns; 
 
--Have a three-to-four-day supply of food and water at residences in 
the event one is unable to move around town; 
 
--Ensure adequate cash currency (local and USD) is on hand for 
emergencies; 
 
--Carry and monitor embassy-issued two-way radios at all times. 
Post recently received 200 additional two-way radios to issue to 
USDH, MOH, and EFM personnel.  These radios will serve as back-up 
communications in the event commercial cell and landline phone 
networks are unavailable, and as primary communications in the event 
of a developing security situation requiring rapid notification of 
the Mission community; 
 
--In the event of a major incident, all official Americans will be 
subject to rapid recall to ensure accountability and provide 
whatever assistance is required in accordance with Post's Emergency 
Action Plan and their abilities; 
 
--Ensure fuel tanks of vehicles and generators are filled; 
 
--The Mission is taking precautions to stage armored vehicles, and 
ambulances with medical supplies and drivers, at various locations 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002620  003 OF 003 
 
 
around Addis Ababa, to provide enhanced response in the event of 
traffic congestion; 
 
--Mission satellite phones will be assigned to key locations and 
individuals to ensure communications in the event of disruption of 
local commercial communications networks.  The numbers/assignments 
will be forwarded to the Department (SEPTEL); 
 
--An ALDAC has already been issued (reftel) advising USG personnel 
to defer official travel to Ethiopia during this period; 
 
--All three RSOs will be in-country during the Millennium and in 
close contact with other international security chiefs, host country 
law enforcement/security services, and other relevant contacts; 
 
--The Ambassador will limit embassy operations for a four day period 
(Sep. 11-14) during the Millennium.  Most Embassy personnel will 
have a difficult time getting to work.  Essential personnel will be 
on duty or available; 
 
--Official personnel are prohibited from traveling (official and 
personnel) within Ethiopia (outside Addis Ababa) during this period; 
 
 
--Security posture at the Embassy and other official locations 
(USAID and CDC) is already good.  Post's local guard force (LGF) and 
surveillance detection team (SDT) have been briefed regarding the 
situation and will be on a heightened state of alert. 
 
-------------- 
WARDEN MESSAGE 
-------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Post's consular section will work with the Department to 
draft and release a warden notice reminding American citizens to 
avoid prominent places and regarding the elevated threat in East 
Africa (especially Ethiopia) due to ongoing events in the region. 
 
¶10. (U) Direct any questions regarding this matter to RSO Addis 
Ababa. 
 
YAMAMOTO