SOMALIA: AIDID "AMBASSADOR" ACCUSES ITALIAN GOVERNMENT OF GRAND LARCENY, ATTEMPTED MURDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001402

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2012
TAGS: PREL ET SO ET SO ET SO ITALY'>IT ITPREL ITPREL
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: AIDID "AMBASSADOR" ACCUSES ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF GRAND LARCENY, ATTEMPTED MURDER

REF: K. METRES-G. COLVIN (AF/E) TELCONS AND EMAILS
FEB. 12-MARCH 4

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M C TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASON 1.5 (B) AND (D)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) POLOFF MET WITH FADUMA FARAH AIDID, THE SISTER OF
"SOMALI PRESIDENT" HUSSEIN MOHAMED AIDID AND DAUGHTER OF THE
ASSASSINATED WARLORD GENERAL AIDID FEBRUARY 20. HUSSEIN
AIDID IS THE HEAD OF THE SOMALI RECONCILIATION AND
RESTORATION COUNCIL (SRRC) FACTION BUT HAS NO REAL CLAIM TO
BEING PRESIDENT OF SOMALIA. EXPRESSING EXTREME DISTRUST OF
ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN INTENTIONS, MS. AIDID SOUGHT A "NEW
PARTNERSHIP" BETWEEN SOMALIA AND THE UNITED STATES.
ACCORDING TO THE MFA, MS. AIDID HAS A NUMBER OF BEEFS AGAINST
THE GOI, PRINCIPALLY THAT SHE IS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SOMALI
EMBASSY AND ITS BANK ACCOUNT. SHE MADE A NUMBER OF SERIOUS
AND INCREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE GOI, INCLUDING THAT
THE GOI HAD STOLEN SOMALI GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, PERMITTED ARMS
TO BE SMUGGLED INTO SOMALIA, AND SENT ASSASSINS TO KILL HER
BROTHER. PER REFCON INTEREST, POST'S MEETING WITH AIDID IS
FULLY TRANSMITTED FOR THE RECORD. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) PRESENTING A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS TO BOLSTER HER
CLAIM TO REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA AS ITS
AMBASSADOR, FADUMA FARAH AIDID REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE
AMBASSADOR "IN ORDER TO REESTABLISH NORMAL DIPLOMATIC,
POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN SOMALIA AND THE
UNITED STATES." THE REQUEST WAS SIGNED BY AN ITALIAN NAMED
FRANCO CANNATA', IDENTIFIED AS GENERAL COUNSELOR FOR SPECIAL
AFFAIRS OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC. ON FEBRUARY 20, AIDID AND
CANNATA MET WITH POLOFF AT THE U.S. EMBASSY. THEY ARRIVED AN
HOUR LATE, AND MS. AIDID ADDRESSED POLOFF IN THE FAMILIAR
VOICE (IN ITALIAN). HER RAMBLING, ACCUSATORY REMARKS LACKED
IN DIPLOMATIC FINESSE AND CREDIBILITY.

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WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT?
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3. (C) MS. AIDID IS THE DAUGHTER OF ASSASSINATED WARLORD
GENERAL AIDID AND SISTER OF "SOMALI PRESIDENT" HUSSEIN
MOHAMED AIDID. ACCORDING TO MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR EAST
AFRICAN AFFAIRS PAOLA IMPERIALE, HUSSEIN AIDID REPRESENTS
HIMSELF INSIDE SOMALIA AS THE HEAD OF THE ETHIOPIAN-ALLIED
SRRC, NOT CHIEF OF STATE. HIS ONLY CLAIM TO BEING
"PRESIDENT" IS PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
PALACE. IMPERIALE DISMISSED HIM AS NOT EVEN A PARTICULARLY
INFLUENTIAL WARLORD. STILL MORE ODDLY, HUSSEIN HAD RECENTLY
BYPASSED HIS SISTER AND CANNATA TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOI
VIA ANOTHER ITALIAN. (THE MESSAGE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE
TO CONSULT WITH THE GOI REGARDING THE UPCOMING NAIROBI PEACE
CONFERENCE, IN WHICH THE SRRC HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE.
IMPERIALE NOTED THAT THE GOI HAD SENT TWO MESSAGES TO
ETHIOPIA, THE FIRST ENCOURAGING ETHIOPIA TO PARTICIPATE AND
THE SECOND RECOGNIZING ITS INFLUENCE OVER CERTAIN
PARTIES--READ SRRC--AND ASKING IT TO CONVINCE THEM TO
PARTICIPATE.)


4. (C) ACCORDING TO BACKGROUND INFORMATION FROM IMPERIALE,
MS. AIDID AND CANNATA--WHO IS EITHER HER HUSBAND OR LIVE-IN
PARTNER--WENT TO THE MFA PROTOCOL OFFICE LATE LAST YEAR TO
REQUEST THAT A POLICE ESCORT BE PROVIDED SO THAT SHE COULD
OCCUPY THE SOMALI EMBASSY. THE FORMER CONSUL GENERAL (A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LATE AIDID SR.'S GOVERNMENT) LIVES IN
THE EMBASSY AS A CARETAKER AND GUARDIAN OF ITS SECRET FILES.
PROTOCOL INFORMED MS. AIDID THAT IT WOULD BE UNABLE TO HELP
HER ACCESS THE EMBASSY, SINCE SHE WAS NO LONGER AN ACCREDITED
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DIPLOMAT IN ITALY AND THE GOI DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANY
GOVERNMENT IN SOMALIA. IN EARLY DECEMBER, JUST BEFORE
SENDING HER MEETING REQUEST TO US, AIDID ASKED THE MINISTRY
OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE TO PROVIDE HER ACCESS TO THE SOMALI
EMBASSY'S BANK ACCOUNT. AIDID WAS INFORMED THAT THE MINISTRY
DID NOT KNOW IF OR WHERE THE EMBASSY STILL HAD FUNDS IN
ITALY. IN ANY CASE, IT WOULD BE UNABLE TO OBLIGE A BANK TO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO HER WITHOUT EITHER WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM
THE ACCOUNT SIGNATORIES OR INSTRUCTIONS FROM A RECOGNIZED
SOMALI GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY.


5. (C) MS. AIDID PROVIDED POST WITH A DOCUMENT THAT
INDICATES THAT SHE CAME TO ITALY IN 1986 AS AN ACCREDITED
THIRD SECRETARY AT THE EMBASSY; SHE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
CONTINUALLY RESIDENT HERE SINCE. MS. AIDID ALSO PRESENTED A
COURT DECISION STATING THAT IN JUNE 2000, THE PREFECT OF
VITERBO ORDERED HER DEPORTED FOR REMAINING WITHOUT APPLYING
FOR RESIDENCY. HE APPARENTLY BELIEVED THAT HER DIPLOMATIC
VISA WAS NO LONGER VALID, SINCE SHE DID NOT REPRESENT A
RECOGNIZED GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, AIDID PREVAILED BEFORE A
JUDGE, WHO RULED THAT SINCE IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHO REPRESENTED

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ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 PM-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 777BB4 191616Z /38
R 191532Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2831
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY RIYADH
AMEMBASSY SANAA
CIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 001402

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2012
TAGS: PREL ET SO ET SO ET SO IT ITPREL ITPREL
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: AIDID "AMBASSADOR" ACCUSES ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF GRAND LARCENY, ATTEMPTED MURDER

SOMALIA, SHE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY UNTIL HER VISA EXPIRED
IN 2001. (COMMENT: SINCE HER VISA AND PASSPORT EXPIRED LAST
YEAR, HER APPROACH TO US AND OTHERS--SEE PARA 9--MAY BE
ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY SO THAT THE
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MOVE TO DEPORT HER. END
COMMENT.) FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, AIDID SEEMS TO HARBOR
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EXTREME ANIMOSITY TOWARD THE GOI. PARAS 6-8 PROVIDE A
COMPILATION OF HER VIEWS.

SPIES AND MEDDLING FOREIGNERS EVERYWHERE
--------------


6. (C) --MS. AIDID WANTS TO PREVENT THE GOI FROM DOING
FURTHER (UNSPECIFIED) DAMAGE TO SOMALIA.
--THE "GOS" (AS REPRESENTED BY MS. AIDID) IS READY TO DROP
EUROPE AND WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES.
--THE LETTERS THAT HER GOVERNMENT HAS SENT TO THE USG DO NOT
ARRIVE BECAUSE THE ITALIAN SECRET SERVICE TAKES THEM.
--THE ARAB COUNTRIES DO NOT WANT SOMALIA TO ADVANCE. THE GOI
USES ARABS TO ADVANCE ITS ANTI-SOMALIA AGENDA.
--FOREIGN MERCENARIES ARE ENTERING SOMALIA FROM ERITREA. THE
ITALIAN MFA AND MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR ARE COLLUDING IN
PASSPORT FRAUD TO FACILITATE THIS MOVEMENT.
--THE GOI MAINTAINS A MILITARY SATELLITE ABOVE THE INDIAN
OCEAN THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION TO ARAB AND SOMALI TERRORISTS
IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ASSASSINATIONS IN SOMALIA.
--THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR WHO WAS EXPELLED FROM ERITREA WAS A
COLONEL IN THE ITALIAN SECRET SERVICE BEFORE BEING SENT TO
ERITREA TO SPY ON SOMALIA.
--THE GOI COLLABORATES WITH THE "FOLLOWERS OF SIAD BARRE" WHO
LIVE IN THE SOMALI EMBASSY PROPERTY. (COMMENT: ACCORDING TO
IMPERIALE, THE CARETAKER OF THE EMBASSY IS A FORMER AIDID,
SR. REPRESENTATIVE AND COLLEAGUE OF MS. AIDID'S. SHE NOTED
THAT AIDID, SR. HIMSELF WAS A BARRE PROTG UNTIL THE TWO
BEGAN TO STRUGGLE FOR POWER. END COMMENT.)
--THE GOI IS THE "ONLY GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD THAT ARROGATES
TO ITSELF THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO REPRESENTS SOMALIA."
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PAGE 03 ROME 01402 02 OF 03 191616Z

GRAND LARCENY
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7. (C) --THE GOI STOLE $5M OF SOMALI GOVERNMENT MONEY AND
SENT IT TO BARRE THROUGH ITS CENTRAL BANK. BECAUSE IT CAN NO
LONGER STEAL FUNDS UNDER THE AIDID, JR. GOVERNMENT, IT WANTS
TO DESTABILIZE SOMALIA. "ITALY IS MAKING WAR AGAINST US."
--THE GOI ARRESTED HER (COMMENT: FOR VIOLATING IMMIGRATION
LAW END COMMENT) BECAUSE IT WAS AFRAID SHE WOULD EXPOSE ITS
WRONGDOING.
--COL. LUCA RAJOLA PESCARINI STOLE THE SOMALI GOVERNMENT
FLEET OF SHIPS IN 1991.
--ITALIANS ARE USING HAWALA-TYPE MONEY SYSTEMS ASTEL AND
NATIONLINK TO FACILITATE THEIR ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
--PRESIDENT CIAMPI AND PM BERLUSCONI ARE MEMBERS OF BARAKAT
THROUGH TELECOM ITALIA.

ARMS SMUGGLING AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
--------------


8. (C) ACCORDING TO MS. AIDID, BOTH THE "KARINE-A" AND SHIPS
BEARING ARMS FOR SOMALIA DEPARTED FROM ITALY. FURTHERMORE,
MERCENARIES FINANCED BY BERLUSCONI TRIED TEN TIMES IN JULY TO
ASSASSINATE HER BROTHER HUSSEIN.


9. (SBU) IN MID-MARCH, POST WAS CONTACTED BY AN ISRAELI
EMBASSY CONTACT SEEKING INFORMATION ON MS. AIDID, APPARENTLY
TO HANDLE A REQUEST FOR A MEETING.

COMMENT
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10. (C) BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THE MFA,
WE WONDER IF "AMBASSADOR" AIDID REPRESENTS EVEN HER FAMILY,
MUCH LESS ANYTHING APPROACHING A GOVERNMENT. END COMMENT.


11. (SBU) THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER (UNOFFICIALLY TRANSLATED
FROM THE ITALIAN) WRITTEN IN FAVOR OF MS. AIDID'S CAUSE BY
GUILIANO PISAPIA, A COMMUNIST RENEWAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. PISAPIA IS ARRIVING AN HOUR LATE AND
MAKING THE FAUX PAS OF ADDRESSING POLOFF IN THE FAMILIAR
VOICE (IN ITALIAN),AIDID'S RAMBLING, ACCUSATORY REMARKS
SORELY LACKED IN DIPLOMATIC FINESSE AND CREDIBILITY. ONE OF
A NUMBER OF ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS THAT SUPPORT
PRO-ETHIOPIAN FACTIONS IN SOMALIA.

BEGIN TEXT.

TO THE MINISTERS OF INTERIORS AND OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

WITNESSETH THAT

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ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EUR-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00
NSAE-00 EPAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 777BC3 191616Z /38
R 191532Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2832
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY RIYADH
AMEMBASSY SANAA
CIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 001402

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2012
TAGS: PREL ET SO ET SO ET SO IT ITPREL ITPREL
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: AIDID "AMBASSADOR" ACCUSES ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT OF GRAND LARCENY, ATTEMPTED MURDER

BY DECREE DATED JUNE 6, 2000, THE PREFECT OF VITERBO ORDERED
THE DEPORTATION OF THE SOMALI CITIZEN FADUMA FARAH AIDID FOR
REMAINING IN THE STATE TERRITORY WITHOUT APPLYING FOR THE
RESIDENCE PERMIT WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TERM;

MS. AIDID, DAUGHTER OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SOMALI
REPUBLIC, GENERAL AIDID, KILLED IN 1996, AND SISTER OF THE
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CURRENT PRESIDENT HUSSEIN MOHAMED AIDID, CAME TO ITALY IN
1986 ACCREDITED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS THIRD
SECRETARY AT THE EMBASSY OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC IN ROME;

SIPDIS

IN THE DEPORTATION ORDER, IT IS STATED THAT MS. AIDID &IS NO
LONGER A STAFF MEMBER8 OF THE SOMALI MISSION TO ITALY;

SUCH A STATEMENT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
AND IS CONTRADICTED BY THE FACT THAT MS. AIDID IS THE HOLDER
OF A DIPLOMATIC VISA VALID UNTIL 2001 AND OF A NOTE OF
ACCREDITATION RELEASED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOMALI
REPUBLIC;

THE TRIBUNAL OF VITERBO, THEREFORE, HAS INVALIDATED THE
DEPORTATION ORDER BY JUDICIAL RULING ON JUNE 28, 2000;

THE GENERAL COUNSELOR FOR SPECIAL AFFAIRS AT THE EMBASSY OF
THE SOMALI REPUBLIC TO ITALY, MR. FRANCO CANNATA,, IN A
COMPLAINT SENT TO THE REPUBLIC PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS
POINTED TO THE FACT THAT THE EMBASSY BUILDING HAS BEEN
ILLEGALLY TAKEN OVER BY PERSONS UNRELATED TO THE DIPLOMATIC
MISSION, NAMELY BY EXPONENTS OF THE REGIME OF SIAD BARRE,
OVERTHROWN IN 1991, WHO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO PERFORM
FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS THEIR OWN BY EITHER THE
LEGITIMATE SOMALI GOVERNMENT OR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY;

THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT INTERVENED, SO FAR, TO PUT AN
END TO THIS SITUATION AND HAS, INSTEAD, INCREASED THE GENERAL
CONFUSION IN THAT IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF MOGADISHU, SO THAT THE SOMALI
EMBASSY TO ITALY DOES NOT EXIST AT PRESENT;
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IN ADDITION, THE DIPLOMATIC COUNSELOR OF THE SOMALI EMBASSY
HAS DENOUNCED IRREGULAR AND INTIMIDATING BEHAVIORS FROM THE
INTELLIGENCE AND THE ITALIAN POLICE FORCES;

REQUESTS TO KNOW:

WHAT INFORMATION THEY HAVE IN RELATION TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED
FACTS AND WHAT MEASURES THEY INTEND TO ADOPT, IN ORDER TO
GUARANTEE COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW TOWARD THE
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC IN ITALY
AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO REMOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THIS STATE
OF UNCERTAINTY, WHICH IS CREATING SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR SOMALI
CITIZENS RESIDING IN ITALY;

WHAT MEASURES THEY INTEND TO ADOPT TO ASCERTAIN THE VERACITY
OF THE STATEMENTS BY THE DIPLOMATIC COUNSELOR OF THE EMBASSY
OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC.

HON. GIULIANO PISAPIA

END TEXT.
SEMBLER

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2002ROME01402 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL