A/S FRAZER AND IGAD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ON SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000831

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL IGAD DJ SO
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER AND IGAD EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ON SOMALIA


Classified By: A/S JFRAZER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) "We want the United States to be part of the
process," said IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Bashir Attallah
to A/S Jendayi Frazer, during a cocktail the Ambassador
hosted June 21 for both. Dr. Attallah, who is headquartered
in Djibouti, said IGAD wants America's "active
involvement." It wants America "to show up at meetings, and
to show political support for the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG)." A/S Frazer pointed out that the United
States has made statements of support for the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) and for holding open dialogue. "Be
assured we will be involved in Somalia," she said. "That is
the reason for my visit here today." But, A/S Frazer
pointed out, "there appears to be differing views within
the TFG and among IGAD member states on how this
involvement should occur."


2. (C) Dr. Attallah conceded that many initiatives have
followed Somalia's collapse in 1991, but all have been
limited in scope and all offered only unilateral
approaches. The IGAD initiative began in 2002, he said, and
wanted to involve everyone from all sides. At that time,
Dr. Attallah continued, USAID gave financial support, but
there was only one person from the Department of State
assigned to watch Somalia. That person changed position
every six months, according to Dr. Attallah. Somalis, he
continued, lost confidence in peace when the Americans
pulled out. Dr. Attallah described Somalia as a "safe
haven" for terrorists from all over Asia and the Middle
East. He opined that if there is support for the
Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs),peace in Somalia
will follow.


3. (C) Dr Attallah noted a recent meeting in Nairobi of the
IGAD Council of Ministers and said IGAD wanted political
support--not financial support. He stated that IGAD is
concerned about the Arab League initiative on Somalia,
taking form in the ongoing meeting in Khartoum. He said
IGAD does not accept recognition of Islamists, but feared
the Arab League would. Moreover, IGAD is against "parallel
initiatives", he explained, such as the Arab League and the
Somalia Contact Group, and does not wish to see "a mushroom
of initiatives."


4. (C) A/S Frazer responded that the Somalia Contact Group
was established under Norway's invitation, not to serve as
a parallel initiative. It was seen, she said, as a way to
coordinate policy on Somalia. A/S Frazer noted that the
Arab League and IGAD should be involved in future
discussions, since the Somalia Contact Group is a forum for
discussion, not a governing body.


5. (C) A/S Frazer told Dr. Attallah that IGAD member states
seem to differ in opinion about what to do regarding
lifting the arms embargo and Somalia peacekeeping
operations. Dr. Attallah pointed out that Ugandan President
Museveni wanted strongly to begin peacekeeping operations.
A/S Frazer expressed the view that Museveni may be unclear
on how to proceed, given the lack of clarity on the issue.
Dr. Attallah observed that IGASOM efforts would be
temporary, until the African Union can take over. He said
military experts from the AU and IGAD were meeting to
discuss the situation in Somalia and then planned to travel
there to asses the security situation.


6. (C) A/S Frazer advised Dr. Attallah that there is merit
in giving space for moderates to emerge. The main concern,
however, is to prevent extremists from consolidating their
efforts in the interim. Dr. Attallah noted his fears in
this regard and commented that each clan in Somalia wanted
the umbrella of having its own Islamic Court. Already, he
continued, "we are seeing in Somalia a mushrooming of
Islamic Courts." According to Dr. Attallah, three more had
emerged since the Islamic Courts declared victory over the
warlords.

RAGSDALE