DETAILS OF URANIUM EXTRACTION EFFORT IN SOMALIA BY IRAQI, LIBYAN, AND IRANIAN TECHNICIANS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06572662
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2016
• Case Number: F-2007-01453
• Publication Date: April 13, 1999

Approved for Release: 2016/07/25 C06572662
SECAETHORCON/NOFORN
SECT /WM:ftWNW�
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Classified by: UNSPECIFIED
Reason: UNSPECIFIED
Declassify on: X1
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"tW �Igifi-SUBJ: DETAILS OF URANIUM EXTRACTION EFFORT IN SOMALIA BY IRAQI, (b)(3)
LIBYAN, AND IRANIAN TECHNICIANS
Central Intelligence Agency
13 April 1999
Doc Number
FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
(U) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT, NOT
(U) INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE REPORT CLASS 8-E-B-R-C--TITIOFT7RN
13 APRIL 1999
Dt5T:
(U) REPORT CLASS S E E TNOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS-DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION Or
INFORMATION CONTR LLED BY ORIGINATOR.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUMENT. END OF
MESSAGE-SreRtr�
SOURCE A
CONTEXT A
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jeaf P4)2. ON 00)(l )
ABOUT 8 MACH 1999, A DELEGATION OF 15 NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS COMPOSED (b)(3)
OF 7 IRAQIS, 4 IRANIANS AND 4 LIBYANS, ARRIVED BY PLANE AT BALIDOGLE AIRPORT IN
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA AS PERSONAL GUESTS OF THE SELF-DECLARED SOMALI PRESIDENT. THEY
BROUGHT WITH THEM SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE QUALITY
OF URANIUM ORE, AND HAVE REPORTEDLY OFFERED THE SELF-DECLARED PRESIDENT FOUR
MILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR 6,000 TONS OF RAW URANIUM ORE.
l'S.Pirr3. DURING THE VISIT, THE DELEGATION VISITED THE FOLLOWING AREAS BELIEVED TO
HAVE RESERVES OF URANIUM ORE: ALI GELLE IN DUSA MAREB, BUURHAKABA (02-47N, 44-05E), BUR
HEIYIB, BUR EYLE AND BUR QALIN. ALL OF THESE AREAS ARE REPORTEDLY UNDER THE CONTROL
OF SOMALIA'S SELF-DECLARED PRESIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TEAM BEGAN TO MOVE LARGE
QUANTITIES OF URANIUM ORE FOR STORAGE ON A BANANA PLANTATION, LOCATED IN AFGOYE,
BELONGING TO SOMALI BUSINESSMAN AND FRIEND OF THE "PRESIDENT," ((MAYKEL)) MUHAMMED
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3ECRET Nef-erIEZN
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SHAYKH. THE INITIAL PLAN WAS TO TRANSPORT THE URANIUM ORE TO THE MERCA PORT (01-43N,
44-53E); HOWEVER, A DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO USE MERCA BECAUSE THE SELF-DECLARED
PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE PORT, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CONFLICT
WITH OTHER MILITIAS. THE PLAN NOW IS TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION ALONG THE COAST, BETWEEN
THE VILLAGES OF GESIRA (01-57N, 45-12E) AND DHANANE (01-53N, 45-02E), WHERE THE ORE CAN BE
TAKEN OUT TO A LARGER SHIP BY SMALLER BOATS.
K/n/119 4. AS OF MARCH 15, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL DELEGATION
STILL IN MOGADISHU. A PLANE ARRIVED AT BALIDOGLE AIRPORT WITH SPECIAL ANTI-RADIATION
CLOTHING AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT (GEIGER COUNTERS), WHICH WERE UNLOADED AND TAKEN
TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE SCIENTISTS/ TECHNICIANS ARE STAYING -- A FORTIFIED VILLA
BELONGING TO MAYKEL MUHAMMED SHAYKH.
ItIFI 5
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Nn/DIF) 6. COMMENT: THERE IS SOME INFORMATION CONNECTING THE DELEGATION TO (b)(3)(b)(3)
A JOINT IRAQ/LIBYAN EFFORT TO OBTAIN URANIUM. HOWEVER, POSSIBLY INDICATIVE THAT THE
TRANSACTION IS OF A PRIVATE RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED NATURE IS THE FACT
THAT MAYKEL IS A FRIEND OF SYRIAN ARMS DEALER MUNIR ((KAZARI)), WHO RESIDES IN MARBELA,
SPAIN AND WHO COULD BE INVOLVED IN A PRIVATE EFFORT TO EXTRACT AND SELL URANIUM TO
ROGUE STATES.)
-41/)
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THE IRAQI-IRANIAN GROUP THAT ARRIVED I(b)(1)
SOMALIA HAD VISITED THE LOCATION OF THE OLD ENI URANIUM MINE AT BUR ACABA, ABOUT 180 i(b)(3)
WEST FROM MOGADISHU. THE GROUP WAS ATTEMPTING TO ARRANGE FOR THE MOVEMENT OF
ORE MATERIAL FROM THE MINE TO MERCA BUT WAS PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY THE
RAHAWAYN RESISTANCE ARMY (RRA) ALLIED WITH ETHIOPIA).
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