SOMALIA: ADDIS TFG REP CLAIMS DEAL BETWEEN TFG AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002400

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS YAMAMOTO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: ADDIS TFG REP CLAIMS DEAL BETWEEN TFG AND
UIC


Classified By: CHARGE JANET WILGUS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Somalian Transitional Federal
Government's (TFG) Representative in Addis Ababa informed
A/DCM Sept. 4 and 5 that the TFG had agreed on the broad
outlines of a deal with negotiators from the Union of Islamic
Courts during negotiations in Khartoum. The tentative deal
called for integration of the two groups' militias under a
single command, power-sharing arrangements in the cabinet to
be defined later and the exclusion of UIC extremists
including Aweys and Ayro, as well as certain warlords. The
two sides also reportedly agreed to continuing direct
negotiations without international community facilitation.
In light of the tentative arrangement on combined security
forces, the TFG rep said that deployment of an IGASOM mission
"may not be needed." He emphasized, however, that USG and
IGAD support for IGASOM had played a key role in bringing the
UIC to the negotiating table. End Summary.


2. (C) The TFG representative to Ethiopia and the African
Union, Amb. Abdikarin Farah, called A/DCM Sept. 4 to discuss
ongoing talks in Khartoum with the Union of Islamic Courts.
Farah reported that the two sides "were about to sign" an
agreement, but indicated on Sept. 5 that the talks had ended
without a formal agreement. Nevertheless, Farah maintained
that discussions would continue based on the following key
elements:

-- a "security agreement" that involved the integration of
the UIC and TFG militias

-- the exclusion of "outside" political forces

-- power-sharing arrangements involving cabinet posts to be
finalized later

-- the exclusion of UIC "extremists" including Hassan Aweys
and Ayro, as well certain "warlords" from government

-- modification of the Transitional Federal Charter to make
more reference to Islam (details not agreed yet.)

-- continuing direct negotiations with international
observers, rather than facilitators


3. (C) Amb. Farah indicated that an IGAD Heads of State
meeting in Nairobi Sept. 5 would review the results of the
negotiations in Khartoum. When asked about implications of
the Khartoum deal for the planned deployment of an IGASOM
peace support mission, Farah replied that IGASOM "may not be
needed" if agreed-upon security arrangements -- i.e. the
integration of UIC and TFG militias -- are implemented. He
added that international support, especially from the USG and
IGAD, for IGASOM had been crucial in influencing the UIC's
bargaining position. Farah praised renewed USG engagement on
Somalia in general for encouraging a settlement with the UIC.
WILGUS