(C) SOMALIA: FCO SEEKS CLOSER COORDINATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 004022

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL SO UK
SUBJECT: (C) SOMALIA: FCO SEEKS CLOSER COORDINATION


Classified By: PolMinCouns Maura Connelly; reason 1.4 (b, d)


1. (U) Action Request - please see paragraph 4.


2. (C) FCO East Africa Section Head Ben Lyon told Poloff
June 5 that the UK is keen to coordinate more closely with
the USG on Somalia. He said Africa Director James Bevan
tried to phone A/S Frazer June 2 to ask for a response to the
draft "US/UK Joint Policy Paper" on Somalia that he had given
her in Washington in early May. FCO Minister for Africa Lord
Triesman and Secretary of State for International Development
Hilary Benn have ordered a policy review on Somalia, and
Triesman told A/S Frazer of his interest during the lunch he
hosted for her in London on May 16. The underlying premises
of the British policy review are that "rebuilding the Somali
State is essential" to addressing threats of terrorism,
piracy and uncontrolled migration, as well as the
humanitarian problems of poverty and drought, and that the
Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) provide an
opportunity to move towards "a permanent democratically
elected parliament and government in 2010."


3. (C) Lyon suggested that Bevan's draft be seen as a way
to get the ball rolling, not a specific blueprint to be
followed in every detail. Lyon said the UK is urging the EU
to be more pro-active on Somalia. Key points for discussion
with USG include:

- how best to support the political process (UK is
considering supporting capacity-building for the Transitional
Federal Parliament, ministries and judiciary);

- what (if anything) to do about Somaliland;

- appropriateness of the CMC as a vehicle for cooperation;

- USG view on accrediting diplomats to/from the TFG (TFG
President Yusuf raised this with the British in April;
response is pending consultation with the AU, USG and other
partners);

- USG view on imposition of targeted sanctions against
specific violators of the UN arms embargo (Qatar is
understood to be convening a meeting of the sanctions
committee "soon");

- status of fighting in Mogadishu, and significance thereof;

- prospects of supporting the TFIs' national security plan
once it is presented; and

- clarification of USG funding process and prospects.


4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: We would be grateful for Department
guidance responsive to this FCO request.

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