Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA2203
2006-08-14 11:35:00
SECRET
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

SOMALI PERMREP REPORTS THAT BELED WEYNE REMAINS

Tags:  PREL PINS MOPS SO ET UG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9616
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2203/01 2261135
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 141135Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2010
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002203 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS MOPS SO ET UG
SUBJECT: SOMALI PERMREP REPORTS THAT BELED WEYNE REMAINS
UNDER TFG'S CONTROL

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 2178

B. ADDIS ABABA 2170

C. ADDIS ABABA 2093

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4 (D).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002203

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS MOPS SO ET UG
SUBJECT: SOMALI PERMREP REPORTS THAT BELED WEYNE REMAINS
UNDER TFG'S CONTROL

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 2178

B. ADDIS ABABA 2170

C. ADDIS ABABA 2093

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4 (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. On August 10, deputy pol-econ counselor met
with Ambassador Abdulkarim Farah, Permanent Representative of
the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to the
African Union and the TFG's Ambassador to Ethiopia. Farah
dismissed press reports that Union of Islamic Court (UIC)
forces had captured Beled Weyne, citing the nearby presence
of Ethiopian forces and media bias by BBC's Somali service.
Farah noted that IGAD defense chiefs are to meet next week in
Nairobi, and expressed optimism that they would succeed in
preparing a detailed plan for an IGAD peace support operation
in Somalia, likely to be led by Ugandan troops. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Separately, Bereket Simon, Public Relations Advisor to
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, while not
contradicting reports of the capture of Beled Weyne,
downplayed its significance, saying the GOE would wait to see
how the TFG-UIC talks turned out.

-------------- --------------
REPORTS OF BELED WEYNE'S FALL TO UIC ARE EXAGGERATED
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Amb. Farah dismissed recent press reports (e.g., BBC)
that the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) had captured Beled
Weyne. Noting that Beled Weyne was his home town, Farah
explained that UIC-affiliated militia had only taken over a
single house belonging to the governor, but that Beled Weyne
remained under the TFG's control. Farah reiterated concerns
about the accuracy of BBC reporting on Somalia, noting that
the head of BBC's Somali service was the cousin of UIC leader
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.


4. (S) Amb. Farah noted that Ethiopian military units
remained within 15 kilometers of the border town of Beled
Weyne and that Ethiopian intelligence officers were working
within the office of TFG Prime Minister Ghedi to provide the
TFG with situation reports. Otherwise, he said, Ethiopian
forces had departed from their position to the west of
Baidoa, as the military threat from the UIC was now reduced.
Farah agreed with the assessment of senior Ethiopian
officials (refs A-B) that the TFG could now defend itself
against UIC forces and no longer faced immediate threat.


5. (C) On the internal political front, Farah confirmed that
TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf, Parliamentary Speaker Sharif
Hassan Sheikh Adan, and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi had
now been reconciled, following the August 5 visit of
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum (ref B). The TFG had
agreed to reduce its cabinet ministers from over 100 to 31,
and to produce a three-month plan of action that would be
reviewed by parliament at the end of that period, he said.
Discussions were now underway, he said, on which ministerial
positions would be eliminated. Farah expressed some concern
about succession should anything happen to President Yusuf,
who he noted was an octogenarian with liver problems.

-------------- --------------
IGAD MILITARY STAFF TO DISCUSS IGASOM PLAN NEXT WEEK
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Defense chiefs from IGAD member states would meet in
Nairobi the week of August 14 to discuss a detailed mission
plan for a possible IGAD peace support mission to Somalia
(IGASOM),Farah said. Farah noted that he had met with the
Ugandan defense minister on August 9, and that Uganda was
prepared to contribute troops to IGASOM. Asked when such an
operation could be deployed, and its duration, Amb. Farah
said he hoped an international peacekeeping mission could be
deployed within several months, assuming the UNSC agreed to
modify the arms embargo on Somalia. IGASOM, once deployed,
would likely last two to three years, he added, culminating
in national elections and the formation of a new Somali
government.


7. (C) COMMENT: Ambassador's Farah's observation that the

ADDIS ABAB 00002203 002 OF 002


TFG no longer faces imminent military defeat is consistent
with recent assessments by Ethiopia's top military officer
(ref A). It is possible that Beled Weyne has fallen to the
UIC, but Ethiopia is biding its time, hoping that the region
and international community will yet be able to broker an
understanding between the TFG and UIC. END COMMENT.
HUDDLESTON