ICRC AGREES TO REPATRIATE SOMALI PIRATE SUSPECT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001661 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2026 TAGS: PREL MARR PHSA ICRC SO KE SUBJECT: ICRC AGREES TO REPATRIATE SOMALI PIRATE SUSPECT'S REMAINS, BUT SEEKS ACCESS TO DETAINEES REF: A. NAIROBI 1393 ¶B. NAIROBI 1381 ¶C. NAIROBI 1359 ¶D. STATE 46195 Classified By: Political Counselor Michael J. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1 .4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) The Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Somalia (based in Nairobi) agreed to the Embassy's formal request (dated April 13) to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of the deceased Somali national to Somalia. The ICRC's April 18 communication states "...the ICRC wishes to state its readiness to try and facilitate, provided specific requirements previously formulated by the ICRC to the U.S. Embassy are met, the repatriation of the remains of a deceased Somali national to Somalia and to hand the deceased over to his family." (NOTE: Post is still seeking formal agreement by the GOK to the transit of the deceased's remains through Kenya. END NOTE.) The ICRC also reiterated its offer/request "with respect to visiting the persons detained by the United States in relation to maritime security operations off the Somali coastline." 2.(C) COMMENT/ACTION REQUEST: The ICRC initially offered to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased's remains in conjunction with access to the detained suspects in mid-March. ICRC is patiently awaiting a response regarding access to the detainees. Please advise ASAP regarding ICRC access to the Somali pirate suspects currently held under U.S. control. Please also advise re repatriation of the deceased. END COMMENT/ACTION REQUEST. BELLAMY