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Video: Ethiopia, South Africa suspected Sudan Behind a 2012 plot to kill AU chief




By Aljazeera

Secret intelligence documents leaked to Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit reveal that spies in Addis Ababa were alerted to a plot by "an unnamed state" to kill a top African Union diplomat.

Ethiopian agents later accused Sudan of involvement in the plan to assassinate African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who had previously served as South Africa's foreign minister.

Dlamini-Zuma allegedly faced "an eminent threat" to her life in the Ethiopian capital which also hosts the headquarters of the African Union in October 2012, just days after she was appointed.

The documents show that South African and Ethiopian intelligence agencies had been unprepared for the threat, for which they blamed Sudan. The agencies admitted they did not have enough time to "neutralise the operation" or apprehend those involved.

The documents also describe how unarmed African Union (AU) bodyguards "slept in corridors for four days without food or water provided," because the AU "did not arrange accommodation and resources for food".

'An eminent threat'

On October 22, a week after Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma became AUC chairperson, the Spy Cables show that South African intelligence headquarters received information about a possible assassination attempt.

It quickly relayed the details to the embassy in Addis Ababa, and that evening, the South African ambassador briefed Dlamini-Zuma, telling her "there might be some changes in the protection arrangements".

He had expected an attack within the following two days.

South Africa's top spy in Addis Ababa then called Ethiopia's intelligence chief. He left a message, and an hour later got a call back.

Just before 10pm, Ethiopia's spy boss was informed of the threat, and the two men agreed to beef up the South African diplomat's security. Four extra bodyguards were sent to her hotel the following morning.

Crisis meeting

On the day the attack was expected, all the spies could do is watch, wait and hope that the security they had deployed could protect the life of the chairperson.

Amid the crisis, South Africa's security chiefs held an emergency meeting, also chronicled in the Spy Cables. The acting head of South African military intelligence, General T Nyembe, told his colleagues that "an unnamed state" was behind the plot, and warned that there had been "another alert which further pointed out a potential assassination plot… to be carried out at a different venue."

The South Africans discussed the need to make "an overall intervention for the security of the AUC Chair", but doing so in a diplomatic manner to "avoid creating the impression that South Africa was declaring a vote of no confidence on the handing of AUC Chairperson's security" by Ethiopia.

The day passed without any attack.

The following morning, the South Africans meet their Ethiopian counterparts and were told, for the first time, of Sudan's suspected involvement in the plot.

The Spy Cables report that the director of Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Hadera Abera, explained that his service has crosschecked the names of the plotters with "all entry points especially those bordering Sudan".

They found no matches, and the Spy Cables do not reveal the names of the plotters.

Another secret document recorded Abera saying that in his service's assessment, Sudan "would not carry out such operations" as it had "paid dearly in the attempted assassination of Egypt former President Mubarak."

There is no explanation of how Sudan had "paid dearly," but the state was linked to the attack on Mubarak that took place in Addis Ababa in 1995.

'Slept in corridors'

Abera reassured the South Africans that "there has been never [sic] a threat that developed into a situation where a diplomat is killed in Addis Ababa with the exception of the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak whose life was threatened in 1987."

The only previously reported attempt on Mubarak's life had been in 1995. It's not clear if Abera has mistaken the date or if there had been another, previously unreported assassination attempt in 1987*. Mubarak did visit Addis Ababa in 1995 for talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Abera asked for more help from South Africa and to share intelligence to help foil "terrorist activities."

However, the same document shows that AU security chief General Egziabher Mebrahtu swiftly contradicted Abera's reassurances about diplomats' security in Addis Ababa. He "lamented" the situation for his unarmed men, who have a "poor capacity to provide and protect".

The AU security man also explained that confusion between his agency and Ethiopian intelligence, who provide security for the AUC chairperson, resulted in the situation where the "AU did not arrange accommodation and resources for food" for the bodyguards.

"The protectors slept in corridors for four days without food and water," one spy cable records. "This created a gap since they have to go out of the hotel to get food and water, leaving the Chairperson unattended, therefore vulnerable."

'Threat'

A final secret document on the Addis Ababa security crisis, dated October 29, assesses developments since the threat a few days earlier, and outlines South Africa's security arrangements in Ethiopia. It reveals that the country maintains "two 'Safe Havens' to which South Africans can be taken to in the even of any emergency situations".

It also shows just how underprepared both the South African and Ethiopian security services had been in the face of the threat.

The SSA admits it was not able to foil the plot, writing that "the available time would not allow the host service to neutralise the operation" despite treating the information "with the utmost seriousness".

"Follow-up is being done to clear all potential possibilities on the potential assassination of the Chairperson of the AUC."

"So far no new information has been received regarding the assassins," the secret spy cable concluded.

"The developments on the situation will be monitored and a close liaison with NISS on the matter will be carried out on a daily basis."

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*The AJ reporters of this article are not aware the Ethiopian Calendar is 8 years behind. 
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Video: Ethiopia, South Africa suspected Sudan Behind a 2012 plot to kill AU chief Reviewed by Admin on 12:35 AM Rating: 5

10 comments:

  1. The best way to get a sustainable peace in east africa and africa is to kill the eritrean dicator and his handfull puppets!this will be done soon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Reports Sudan connected to assassination plot against AU commissioner
    http://www.sudantribune.com/local/cache-vignettes/L350xH228/nkosazana-634c1.jpg
    February 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – South African intelligence agency uncovered a plot in 2012 allegedly masterminded by Sudan to assassinate African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, according to secret spy cables obtained by the Guardian and Al-Jazeera.

    Officials at the security body in Johannesburg received information on the alleged attempt and relayed the Intel to their station chief in Addis Ababa who got in touch with Ethiopian authorities to brief them on the imminent threat to the AU official.

    The two sides agreed to beef up Zuma’s security detail as South African military intelligence General T. Nyembe told his colleagues that “an unnamed state” was behind the plot and warned that there had been “another alert which further pointed out a potential assassination plot ... to be carried out at a different venue”.

    At a meeting between security officials from Ethiopia and South Africa saw a revelation that Sudan is behind the plot. The Guardian and al-Jazeera give conflicting accounts of who pointed fingers at Khartoum or supplied the list of people believed to be the ones behind the plot.

    The Spy Cables report that the director of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Hadera Abera, explained that they crosschecked the names of the plotters with "all entry points especially those bordering Sudan" but found no matches.

    Another secret document showed Abera saying that in his service’s assessment, Sudan “would not carry out such operations” as it had “paid dearly in the attempted assassination of Egypt former President [Hosni] Mubarak” in 1995.

    Cairo had accused Khartoum at the time of harboring gunmen who carried out the attempt on Mubarak’s life.

    No possible motive was given for Sudan to seek killing Zuma who was previously South Africa’s foreign minister.

    http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article54106

    ReplyDelete
  3. These so called main stream media talk too much and sometimes misinform the world

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Servant Regime in Ethiopia has been instructed to fan another flame with yet another neighbor. These Weyane monkeys stop at nothing to appease the insatiable American thirst for chaos.
    Could of, would of... Just same old mumbo-jumbo with no concrete evidence. I wonder what the end game is this time?
    this is a none story article.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This story it doesn't add up, because if you paid attention really closely it is the same fabrication story that the they blame Eritrea on plotting a bomb threat at the AU summit back in 2011 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/28/eritrea-planned-ethopia-bomb-attack

    ReplyDelete
  6. The story is obviously bogus. Sudan has no reason to assassinate a toothless AU chief. However, the unfounded accusation should make Sudan more suspicious of TPLF, which is a win for the entire region.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh wow, when it suits you yhh?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sudan rubbishes report linking it to assassination plot against AU chief

    February 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government dismissed reports attributed to secret South African spy cables linking it to an alleged assassination plot against African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 2012.

    The content of the cables published by the Guardian newspaper and al-Jazeera TV say that South African intelligence received information on the plot and relayed it to their station chief in Addis Ababa who got in touch with Ethiopian authorities to brief them on the imminent threat to the AU official.

    The two sides agreed to beef up Zuma’s security detail as South African military intelligence General T. Nyembe told his colleagues that "an unnamed state" was behind the plot and warned that there had been "another alert which further pointed out a potential assassination plot… to be carried out at a different venue."

    A meeting between security officials from Ethiopia and South Africa saw a revelation that Sudan is behind the plot. The Guardian and al-Jazeera give conflicting accounts of who pointed fingers at Khartoum or supplied the list of people believed to be the ones behind the plot.

    The Spy Cables report that the director of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Hadera Abera, explained that they crosschecked the names of the plotters with "all entry points especially those bordering Sudan" but found no matches.

    Another secret document showed Abera saying that in his service’s assessment, Sudan "would not carry out such operations" as it had "paid dearly in the attempted assassination of Egypt former President [Hosni] Mubarak” in 1995.

    Government sources in Khartoum speaking to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday said that the report appears to be “clearly fabricated” and “unbelievable for any sound mind”.

    The sources posed the question "Each crime has a strong motive, what is Sudan’s motive for assassinating this woman?"

    They expressed amazement that the South African government and Mrs. Zuma herself remained silent all this time and never raised this issue if it was true.

    "We believe these are fabricated reports and hastily written and without thought by circles that care only to tarnish Sudan’s reputation”.

    http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article54115

    http://www.sudantribune.com/local/cache-vignettes/L291xH173/nkosazana_dlamini-zuma-e1ded.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  9. I said "some times", listen before you speak

    ReplyDelete
  10. Actually the unnamed country was believed by the AU and Ethiopia is Eritrea.

    ReplyDelete

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