U.S. temporarily closes embassies in Africa
December 17, 1998
Web posted at: 12:31 PM EST (1731 GMT)
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The United States has closed 40 of its embassies in Africa for the next two days as a precautionary measure because of military action in Iraq and ongoing threats in the region, U.S. officials said Thursday.
"In view of a number of recent threats to our embassies in Africa and the heightened threat environment following military action in Iraq, most but not all U.S. government facilities in sub-Saharan Africa were ordered to close for two days December 17 and 18," one U.S. official told Reuters.
The scope of the closings, even on a temporary basis, is believed to be unprecedented and has raised questions in many quarters of the State Department about whether such a sweeping action is warranted.
Of the 46 diplomatic posts in Africa, three -- Congo, Somalia and Guinea Bissau -- are already closed. With this further 40 closings, only three posts remain open -- in South Africa, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso -- officials said.
The State Department's Bureau of African Affairs sent a cable to the posts on Wednesday ordering the temporary suspension of official business, officials told Reuters.
Some officials said the bureau is especially sensitive to the potential for threats since the August bombings of embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 250 people and injured thousands more.
"I can't comment on specifically why we did this. But the decision was carefully considered and the security situation at each embassy was taken into account in making the decision," one official said.
Asked if the sweeping scope of the closures was unprecedented, he replied: "It's not a question of precedence but a question of prudence."
Another official acknowledged: "This is not the usual way of doing things."
He and others expressed surprise at the action. Some officials said the State Department's bureau of diplomatic security, which has responsibility for U.S. embassy security, was not fully consulted on the closings and did not endorse the scope.
The United States and Britain on Wednesday unleashed missile strikes against Iraq after a U.N. report accused Baghdad of failing once again to comply with international weapons inspections.
As a protective measure, the United States on Wednesday ordered the departure of dependents and certain other personnel from diplomatic posts in Israel and Kuwait because of the military action against Iraq.
It also issued a worldwide warning to Americans abroad to be aware of possible retaliatory action and to take precautions.
The posts affected by the "ordered departure" are the embassies in Tel Aviv and Kuwait and the Jerusalem consulate. Those affected include everyone under 18 or over 65 and pregnant women.
On Nov. 11, during the last crisis with Iraq, the State Department authorized the departure of dependents and non- emergency personnel from these same posts, meaning it would permit and pay for them to leave the area.
The new directive requires those stipulated to leave.
In its announcement, the State Department noted that in previous times of tension there were concerns about Iraq possibly using chemical and biological weapons against countries in the region.
In the current crisis, the risk of Iraq using such weapons is "remote, ... delivery would be difficult and ... (President) Saddam Hussein's capabilities are limited," it said.
"However, we are concerned that some members of our community (in Israel and Kuwait) cannot be fully protected against the potential use of such weapons," it said.
In its worldwide caution, the Department said it had no specific information about threats to U.S. citizens (but) "the
potential for retaliatory acts against U.S. citizens exists."
Americans abroad were urged to "maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate measures to protect their personal security," the warning said.