VZCZCXRO7396
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDK #0866 2100748
ZNY SSSS ZZH
R 280748Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0867
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0038 S E C R E T DAKAR 000866 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/RSA, AF/EPS, AF/W 
TREASURY FOR RHALL, DPETERS 
USUN VIENNA FOR FINCIN 
FBI FOR OIO 
STATE PLEASE PASS MCC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2028 
TAGS:              
SUBJECT: SENEGAL/TERRORISM FINANCING LAW - MORE CONCERNS 
RAISED 
 
REF: DAKAR 824 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. JAY T. SMITH, FOR REASON 1.4 (B) 
 AND (D). 
 
 
 1.  (S) Summary:  Despite professional and perhaps personal 
risk, Senegal's Minister of Finance, via the IMF Resrep, 
wants the USG to know that President Wade does not want to 
move forward with required counter-terrorism financing 
legislation.  Wade is reportedly worried about the enhanced 
investigative powers that would be granted to Senegal's 
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).  This information tracks 
perfectly with the similar concern raised by the FIU in 
reftel.  End 
Summary. 
 
CONFIRMING WADE'S OPPOSITION TO CTF LEGISLATION 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 2.  (S) During a meeting on July 17 with Econ Counselor, IMF 
Resrep Alex Segura said he had a "confidential message" to 
pass on from Senegal's Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Diop who 
wanted the USG to know that President Wade did not want the 
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA) 
uniform counter terrorism financing (CTF) directive to be 
ratified in Senegal.  According to Segura (strictly protect), 
Diop (also strictly protect) said that when President Wade 
and his advisors reviewed the draft legislation, they were 
alarmed that it would grant robust investigative powers to 
Senegal's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the CENTIF, and 
therefore could subject deals within the Presidency to 
intense scrutiny.  Minister Diop did not/not indicate that 
President Wade or his inner-circle were afraid of CENTIF 
investigations for terrorism-related reasons, rather, it was 
out of concern for corruption and perhaps money laundering. 
 
 3.  (S) Segura, again relating what Diop shared about Wade's 
response to the draft legislation, said that President Wade 
viewed the President of the CENTIF, Mr. Ngouda Fall Kane, as 
"too independent," and "too determined" in his 
investigations.  Diop believes that President Wade 
understands Senegal's UEMOA treaty obligations to ratify the 
law, but that Wade will use "whatever stalling methods are 
necessary" to avoid presenting the draft legislation to the 
National Assembly. 
 
 4.  (S) According to Segura, Minister Diop wanted the USG to 
know about this situation, because "only the U.S." could 
change President Wade's mind.  Diop was apparently very 
concerned about President Wade possibly finding out that he 
had alerted the USG to this situation, and felt it was even a 
risk should it be known that the Segura passed the message 
because Wade and his advisors would then assume the 
information originated with Diop. 
 
COMMENT/RECOMMENDATION 
---------------------- 
 5.  (S) Minister Diop and Mr. Kane are sources of the highest 
reliability, both of whom have taken professional and 
personal risk to alert us to President Wade's reluctance to 
fulfill his duty and enact CTF legislation.  They do so out 
of a genuine concern for the integrity of Senegal's public 
finances and the need for an effective and independent FIU. 
While needing to fully protect these sources, senior USG 
officials can raise the issue of the UEMOA CFT directive 
since (as outlined in Reftel) post has confirmed with the 
regional central bank (BCEAO), that the directive has been 
passed to member states and the BCEAO expects rapid 
ratification, especially from Senegal, which has routinely 
proclaimed itself the regional leader on financial integrity, 
and a close U.S. ally in the war on terrorism. 
 
Bernicat 
SMITH