NOMINATION OF DJIBOUTIAN AMBASSADOR TO SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001180 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E AND INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SO DJ SUBJECT: NOMINATION OF DJIBOUTIAN AMBASSADOR TO SOMALIA Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) In the 20th meeting of the Council of Ministers on 7 September, where President Ismail Omar Guelleh presided, the counsel approved the proclamation for nomination of Mohamed-Siad Doualeh Warsama to the position of Ambassador to Somalia. Warsama will receive the title of Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to Somalia and Special Envoy for the Somalia Reconciliation Process. ¶2. (C) BIO: Mohamed-Siad Doualeh Warsama has formerly held the position of Head of the Information and Archives Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the Somali Peace process meeting in Arta in 2000, Warsama has been very involved in the Somalia issue. In 2003, he was promoted to Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy to Somalia in Kenya. He speaks English fluently and is known to be an artist and an intellectual. Warsama started a band 12 years ago called "Balbala Blues," which recorded two albums but was unsuccessful for financial reasons. He has been very involved in starting the regional music festival "Fest Horn." Warsama married one year ago. RAGSDALE