AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SOMALI PRIME MINISTER

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 001601

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHSA MARR SO KE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SOMALI PRIME MINISTER
GEDI


Classified By: Poloff Lisa Peterson, Reasons 1.4 (B),(C),and (D).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Ambassador Bellamy met Somali Prime
Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi on April 6 at the Residence. Gedi
offered an up-beat account of developments within the TFIs,
especially the work of parliamentary committees in Baidoa.
He also worried about the recent fighting in Mogadishu. The
Ambassador informed Gedi of our efforts to reach out to Ayr
community leaders. Gedi advised that he would be meeting
with this group as well. The Ambassador emphasized that our
actions are focused on foreign terrorists/extremists and
those individuals sheltering them, not the Ayr community as a
whole. Ambassador added that our near term objective is to
deal with a handful of non-Somali terrorists in Mogadishu and
at the same time build support for the TFIs. Gedi requested
greater cooperation and coordination on piracy issues, noting
that the business community was losing its ability to
operate. He also noted that Radio HornAfrik needs protection
to continue its operations in Mogadishu. Gedi was poised,
showing no sign of concern about persistent rumors of
political moves against him. That said, a clear request to
be consulted on activities like those in Mogadishu likely
derives from a desire to strengthen his credentials. END
SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) Ambassador was accompanied by SIMO chief and staff
members, political officer, and Somalia PD officer. Gedi was
accompanied by his Nairobi liaison officer Mohamed Ali Nur
(Americo).


3. (C) Gedi offered a summary of developments within Somalia.
Parliament had thus far formed 14 commissions and training
sessions had been set up for parliamentarians in Baidoa.
Gedi believed these activities were proceeding well. There
were currently 3,500 militiamen camped outside Baidoa who
lacked shelter, food, and other basic needs, but the
international community had begun coming forward with offers
of support for such needs. The National Security and
Stabilization Plan (NSSP) had been discussed at a workshop in
Naivasha and would be the subject of an experts meeting,
drawing in 15 representatives of the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) as well as Somali and international experts,
April 17 and 18 in Nairobi. Gedi offered to provide a draft
of the plan for USG feedback.


4. (C) The situation in Mogadishu, Gedi said, remains tense,
with the population there in a negative mood toward the
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-terrorism
(ARPCT) because of the perception that its actions were
against Islam. The TFG did not want to support one side or
the other in this conflict and saw a clear need to avoid
creating the appearance of clan warfare. Gedi said he had
been waiting to hear the US. position on the fighting in
Mogadishu. While the TFG was not yet strong, it could
provide assistance in such circumstances. He noted that the
TFG could have offered inputs during the formation of the
Alliance. Unfortunately, the uncoordinated approach to the
fighting in Mogadishu had made it possible for extremists to
characterize the fighting as anti-Islam.


5. (S/NF) The Ambassador reminded Gedi of increasing
extremist activity over the past year in Mogadishu, an issue
we had discussed on previous occasions. The USG focus, he
said, has not changed - it is very much on the Al Qaida
presence and the handful of Somalis who protect them. He
informed Gedi of the Mission's meetings with Ayr sub-clan
leaders, in which we had advised the leaders that we knew of
Ayr community members who were sheltering Al Qaida
operatives. Gedi advised that he would be meeting the Ayr
leaders the following day. He knew of concerns among the Ayr
that the whole community is believed to be associated with Al
Qaida. Gedi said it was important to point fingers
specifically at those responsible for the chaos in Mogadishu,
not the community as a whole. The Ambassador fully agreed
and assured Gedi that we are sensitive to public opinion in
Mogadishu and are evaluating recent events there to determine
if other approaches would be more appropriate.

Piracy
--------------

6. (C) Gedi raised the issue of piracy, saying the business
community was losing its ability to operate. Gedi was aware
of and grateful for US. efforts to intercept the recently
hijacked South Korean fishing vessel (which, he noted, may
have been fishing illegally). The Ambassador noted that we
may at some point need to discuss the possibility of pursuit
within Somalia's 12-mile territorial limit. Gedi began to
edge toward making a request for establishing a Somali coast
guard, but the Ambassador steered him instead in the
direction of taking legal action against those on land who
are profiting from piracy. Joint efforts on land and sea
would put pressure on the entire piracy enterprise and
potentially bring a success to the TFG that would rally
business support for the government. Gedi agreed to the
Ambassador's suggestion that a small USG-TFG working group be
set up to examine the feasibility of bilateral cooperation
against the piracy threat. Gedi further agreed to look into
whether prison facilities in Puntland might be utilized for
holding pirates and whether Somalia's few judicial
authorities might be able to play a role in prosecuting
piracy.

Appeal for the Media
--------------

7. (S/NF) Gedi appealed for help to Radio HornAfrik. The
broadcaster had opened a branch in Baidoa, but within three
days had been shut down by warlords Mohammed Ibrahim Habsade
and Adan Saransoor. The station's operations in Mogadishu
now need protection, which the TFG is not able to provide.
SIMO chief stated that if the Ayr clan could address the
problems emerging from the Ifqahane Islamic court and the
foreign extremists affiliated thereto, HornAfrik would be
able to broadcast freely. The extremists are currently
well-positioned to disseminate disinformation. The TFG needs
to act to counter this disinformation.

Parting Thoughts
--------------

8. (C) In a private comment to the Ambassador, Gedi said
while he wanted to work with some members of the Alliance and
other groups in Mogadishu to create a critical mass of
warlords, militias and political groups willing to bring
stability to the capital, President Yusuf is much more
focused on bringing in foreign troops either to isolate or
occupy the capital. The Ambassador assured Gedi that we
opposed the introduction of foreign troops at this time as we
well recognized the inflammatory effect it would have.


9. (C) Gedi noted that the parliament will remain in Baidoa
and the government in Jowhar. Gedi insisted that, aside from
the issue of foreign troops, he actually had few serious
differences with President Yusuf. He added, however, that he
views the President as more a ceremonial figurehead and
himself as the actual operational head of government with a
responsibility for ensuring that parliament worked.

COMMENT
--------------

10. (S/NF) Gedi was poised and polished, at times presenting
the TFG as if it were on its way to becoming a well-oiled
machine (which it clearly is not). His comments about having
few differences with Yusuf are seriously exaggerated. We
believe the two men are having real difficulty finding common
ground. It is interesting that Gedi described parliamentary
speaker Hassan as an ally (and someone with whom he planned
to travel soon to the US at the invitation of the National
Democratic Institute.


11. (S/NF) His concerns about the unfolding of events in
Mogadishu seemed to be more about the failure to include
either him personally or the TFG as a whole while actions
were being planned than about the nature of the actions
themselves. In spite of ongoing rumors of potential moves
against him, Gedi showed no sign of concern about his
position in government, focusing on the steps necessary to
get institutions up and running. However, his desire to be
consulted on Mogadishu events is likely more about
strengthening his own credentials than about asserting the
authority of the TFG. END COMMENT.
BELLAMY