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.

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Alewa: Comprehensive Plan Forthcoming
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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.

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Alimi: Continued Cooperation Key
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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.

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Somalia: A High Priority
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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