Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA3123
2006-11-28 14:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
SALAFIST INFLUENCE IN ETHIOPIA ON THE RISE
how-toVZCZCXRO0265 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDS #3123 3321457 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281457Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3454 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 003123
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL SO ET
SUBJECT: SALAFIST INFLUENCE IN ETHIOPIA ON THE RISE
ACCORDING TO SOMALI CLAN ELDER
Classified By: PAO ANTHONY FISHER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 003123
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL SO ET
SUBJECT: SALAFIST INFLUENCE IN ETHIOPIA ON THE RISE
ACCORDING TO SOMALI CLAN ELDER
Classified By: PAO ANTHONY FISHER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: According to a Somali clan elder, the GOE
should make efforts to ease tensions within the Muslim
population of Ethiopia. He noted rising Salafist and pro-CIC
sentiments among both Somali and non-Somali Muslims, and an
increasing willingness by Ethiopian Muslim youth to fight on
the side of the CIC in a Jihad declared against Ethiopia.
According to this elder, Ethiopian Muslims are being
recruited to support the CIC and oppose Ethiopia. He claims
that many Ethiopian Muslims view a potential war in Somalia
as a war against Ethiopia and the US. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
SALAFISTS GAIN RECRUITS AMONG ETHIOPIAN MUSLIM YOUTH
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Mohammed Ogaz Hassan, (strictly protect) currently
Somali clan leader of the Issas, sent his nephew Ahmed, a
businessman living in Addis Ababa, to see the PAO with
concerns regarding the increasing recruitment of Ethiopian
Somali and non-Somali Muslim youth by the CIC. Ahmed said
that the CIC have been using half-truths and distortions of
the Quran to rally young Ethiopian Muslims to their cause.
Young Muslims in the Merkato area of Addis Ababa, for
example, according to Ahmed, are 'awaiting orders from the
Islamic Courts in Mogadishu' to join with the CIC. Ahmed
said that the CIC was using the 'same tactics as Al Qaeda' in
reaching out to young Ethiopian Muslims, many of whom see a
war in Somalia as a fight between the 'United States, allied
with Ethiopia, against Islam.' Ahmed indicated that he was
very surprised to see that many of the young Muslims who
expressed a willingness to fight with the CIC in the jihad
against Ethiopia did not speak the Somali language; for him
this was proof that there were Salafist CIC advocates who had
entered Addis Ababa and were actively recruiting adherents
through interpreters.
--------------
GOE SHOULD INDOCTRINATE ETHIOPIAN YOUTH
ABOUT TRUE ISLAM
--------------
3. (C) Ahmed termed any war in Somalia as 'dangerous',
because many young Ethiopian Muslims believed that 'it is a
sacred war.' He appealed to the PAO to alert the GOE to
exceedingly high anti-government sentiment among Muslim
youth. Asked why Ethiopians would want to fight against their
own country, Ahmed said that the youth 'just wanted a change,
any change'. Many he said were also answering the call to
'defend Islam.' In conveying the sentiments of his uncle, he
said that the GOE should use the moderate Islamic religious
authorities, along with the media, to tell young Muslims that
America and Ethiopia are not against Muslims in the coming
fight. Ahmed said that if the GOE acted quickly and credibly,
it would be able to head off potential recruitment of young
Muslims against Ethiopia.
4. (C) (Biographic Note) With the passing of his father, who
was the clan elder, Mohammed Ogaz Hassan returned to Dire
Dawa several years ago to assume his position as 'ogaz,' or
clan leader of the Issas. Due to rising clashes between the
Afars and the Issas, he was recently flown by GOE helicopter
to Dire Dawa to help resolve the clan disputes. Hassan is
well connected to the Djibouti government, the GOE and the
Somali tribes throughout Ogaden, from Jijiga to Djibouti. End
note).
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Conversations by the PAO with other responsible
Muslim Authorities, such as Sheik Elias Redman, head of
Ethiopia's Islamic Supreme Council, reinforce the
observations of Mohammed Ogaz Hassan, that there is an
intensified effort by the Salafists to promote strife among
Muslims and non-Muslims. Recent killings, forced conversions
in Jimma and the circulation nationwide of a gruesome
videotape of mutilated Christians, give credence to the
concerns about rising Salafism in Ethiopia, a cause for grave
concern.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL SO ET
SUBJECT: SALAFIST INFLUENCE IN ETHIOPIA ON THE RISE
ACCORDING TO SOMALI CLAN ELDER
Classified By: PAO ANTHONY FISHER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: According to a Somali clan elder, the GOE
should make efforts to ease tensions within the Muslim
population of Ethiopia. He noted rising Salafist and pro-CIC
sentiments among both Somali and non-Somali Muslims, and an
increasing willingness by Ethiopian Muslim youth to fight on
the side of the CIC in a Jihad declared against Ethiopia.
According to this elder, Ethiopian Muslims are being
recruited to support the CIC and oppose Ethiopia. He claims
that many Ethiopian Muslims view a potential war in Somalia
as a war against Ethiopia and the US. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
SALAFISTS GAIN RECRUITS AMONG ETHIOPIAN MUSLIM YOUTH
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Mohammed Ogaz Hassan, (strictly protect) currently
Somali clan leader of the Issas, sent his nephew Ahmed, a
businessman living in Addis Ababa, to see the PAO with
concerns regarding the increasing recruitment of Ethiopian
Somali and non-Somali Muslim youth by the CIC. Ahmed said
that the CIC have been using half-truths and distortions of
the Quran to rally young Ethiopian Muslims to their cause.
Young Muslims in the Merkato area of Addis Ababa, for
example, according to Ahmed, are 'awaiting orders from the
Islamic Courts in Mogadishu' to join with the CIC. Ahmed
said that the CIC was using the 'same tactics as Al Qaeda' in
reaching out to young Ethiopian Muslims, many of whom see a
war in Somalia as a fight between the 'United States, allied
with Ethiopia, against Islam.' Ahmed indicated that he was
very surprised to see that many of the young Muslims who
expressed a willingness to fight with the CIC in the jihad
against Ethiopia did not speak the Somali language; for him
this was proof that there were Salafist CIC advocates who had
entered Addis Ababa and were actively recruiting adherents
through interpreters.
--------------
GOE SHOULD INDOCTRINATE ETHIOPIAN YOUTH
ABOUT TRUE ISLAM
--------------
3. (C) Ahmed termed any war in Somalia as 'dangerous',
because many young Ethiopian Muslims believed that 'it is a
sacred war.' He appealed to the PAO to alert the GOE to
exceedingly high anti-government sentiment among Muslim
youth. Asked why Ethiopians would want to fight against their
own country, Ahmed said that the youth 'just wanted a change,
any change'. Many he said were also answering the call to
'defend Islam.' In conveying the sentiments of his uncle, he
said that the GOE should use the moderate Islamic religious
authorities, along with the media, to tell young Muslims that
America and Ethiopia are not against Muslims in the coming
fight. Ahmed said that if the GOE acted quickly and credibly,
it would be able to head off potential recruitment of young
Muslims against Ethiopia.
4. (C) (Biographic Note) With the passing of his father, who
was the clan elder, Mohammed Ogaz Hassan returned to Dire
Dawa several years ago to assume his position as 'ogaz,' or
clan leader of the Issas. Due to rising clashes between the
Afars and the Issas, he was recently flown by GOE helicopter
to Dire Dawa to help resolve the clan disputes. Hassan is
well connected to the Djibouti government, the GOE and the
Somali tribes throughout Ogaden, from Jijiga to Djibouti. End
note).
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Conversations by the PAO with other responsible
Muslim Authorities, such as Sheik Elias Redman, head of
Ethiopia's Islamic Supreme Council, reinforce the
observations of Mohammed Ogaz Hassan, that there is an
intensified effort by the Salafists to promote strife among
Muslims and non-Muslims. Recent killings, forced conversions
in Jimma and the circulation nationwide of a gruesome
videotape of mutilated Christians, give credence to the
concerns about rising Salafism in Ethiopia, a cause for grave
concern.
YAMAMOTO