CJTF HOA COMMANDER GHORMLEY VISITS MOD AND MOI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002465 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015 TAGS: PREL MASS PTER PARM YM COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: CJTF HOA COMMANDER GHORMLEY VISITS MOD AND MOI REF: A. SANAA 1854 ¶B. SANAA 1836 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas Krajeski for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 23 Ambassador and visiting Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commanding General, Major General (MGen) Timothy Ghormley met separately with Minister of Defense, Ali Abdullah Alewa, and Minister of Interior, Rashad al-Alimi. Both ministers commended the USG-ROYG GWOT partnership and urged the U.S. to help bring about a solution to the Somalia conflict. Alewa also committed to providing a long-term strategic force development plan to the Office of Military Cooperation-Yemen (OMC). End Summary. -------------- Alewa: Comprehensive Plan Forthcoming -------------- ¶2. (C) Alewa told MGen Ghormley that he was pleased with USG-ROYG cooperation and pushed for USG military assistance to expand the Yemen Special Operations Forces (YSOF). Noting that there were other "deficiencies" that needed redress, Alewa pointed to the Yemeni Navy, saying it has been "neglected for too long." Alewa added that within the week the MOD would pass a comprehensive long-term strategic development plan for the Yemeni Armed Forces. The plan is expected to lay out Yemeni military training and equipment requirements over the next five years. According to Alewa, the plan will incorporate the Navy into ROYG CT efforts and address the issue of intelligence sharing. He also requested support to create an armed forces Medevac and rescue capability. MGen Ghormley stressed the need to improve maritime security to control arms trafficking, and expressed CJTF-HOA's desire to begin training the YSOF and Navy. -------------- Alimi: Continued Cooperation Key -------------- ¶3. (C) Alimi told MGen Ghormley that the YCG has certainly reaped the rewards of USG-ROYG GWOT cooperation, pointing out that Yemen's increased seizures of small arms, drugs and illegal immigrants were a direct result of USG military assistance. Alimi also told Ambassador that he planned to convene an International donors' meeting to ask for additional assistance for the YCG. -------------- Somalia: A High Priority -------------- ¶4. (C) Echoing previous meetings, both Ministers urged the USG to help the newly elected Somali Government of President Abdullahi Yusuf and the 275-member transitional Somali Parliament to return to Mogadishu. (Ref. A and B). Alewa asked MGen Ghormley why the U.S. was not helping. "You should encourage Yusuf to go to Mogadishu, that is where the extremists are!" said Alewa. Alimi echoed Alewa, warning that the situation was becoming worse over time. "The USG is closer to Somalia than we are, you should look into it," he advised. Ambassador replied that arming Yusuf would only encourage more violence and risk another civil war. Political consensus, he continued, is the best solution for a stable and secure Somalia. ¶5. (C) Comment: If MOD follows through with its commitment to provide a long-term strategic force development plan, it would be a significant improvement in OMC-MOD cooperation, also allowing OMC to more efficiently focus limited FMF resources to support CT and border security efforts. Although coordination with MOD will likely remain a challenge, building a relationship with YSOF presents the best near-term strategy for increased cooperation, and provide a valuable opportunity to build a cooperative relationship with President Saleh's son and possible heir, YSOF Commander Ahmed Ali Saleh. End Comment. Krajeski