Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the operating environment, executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Bangui.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 18 recommendations to Embassy Bangui. In its comments on the draft report, the embassy concurred with 14 recommendations, disagreed with 2 recommendations, and neither agreed nor disagreed with 2 recommendations. OIG considers 16 recommendations resolved and 2 recommendations unresolved. The embassy’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The embassy’s formal response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
• The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Bangui in a professional and collaborative manner consistent with the Department of State’s leadership and management principles, particularly related to communication and fostering resilience.
• The 1-year tours of U.S. direct-hire staff, many of whom had limited or no prior experience in their current positions, affected continuity of operations and the embassy’s ability to implement and sustain Department best practices.
• The embassy did not fully complete bilateral joint evaluations of programs funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the embassy’s end-use monitoring program did not fully meet Department standards.
• The Public Diplomacy Section’s grant files did not consistently meet the Department’s Federal Assistance Directive standards for documentation.
• The Consular Section lacked standard operating procedures, and it was unable to accept U.S. citizen registrations for alerts and messaging. The embassy’s public entrance lacked consular signage and information.
• The lack of standard operating procedures in General Services significantly hampered key areas such as property management and motor pool operations, resulting in multiple deficiencies.
• The lack of consistent oversight led to a persistent pattern of inventory loss, to include instances of theft and fraud by local staff resulting in multiple dismissals over the past 2 years.
• Records management and storage did not comply with Department standards.
• Spotlight on Success: The embassy leveraged the re-opening of the American Center after a 6-year closure to engage key audiences in an otherwise highly constrained public diplomacy environment.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Bangui should comply with the requirements of the 2015 Letter of Agreement between the United States government and the Central African Republic government on foreign assistance projects funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Embassy Bangui should comply with the end-use monitoring requirements for Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs assets.
Embassy Bangui should draft standard operating procedures with instructions for local consular operations.
Embassy Bangui should maintain consular records and files in a systematic and organized manner in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs and Embassy Yaoundé, should resolve coordination and systems problems that impede the enrollment of U.S. citizens in the Central African Republic in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Embassy Bangui should install signage with consular information in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui should implement standard operating procedures for its property management and motor pool operations.
Embassy Bangui should comply with all Department Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program standards for chauffeurs and incidental drivers.
Embassy Bangui should manage its armored vehicles in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui should implement a motor vehicle key control system, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should bring its property management procedures into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui should repair or replace its fuel pump.
Embassy Bangui should close out procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui should complete a review of all structures on the chancery compound and ensure that they are reported in the Real Property Application.
Embassy Bangui should complete all information systems security officer responsibilities in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Bangui should comply with Department standards for non-enterprise network physical cybersecurity.
Embassy Bangui should dispose of obsolete classified information processing equipment, in accordance with Department guidance.
Embassy Bangui should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.