U.S. ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO THE FIGHTING IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002165 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2026 TAGS: PREL PTER PINS SO KE SUBJECT: U.S. ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO THE FIGHTING IN MOGADISHU Classified By: Political Counselor Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Extensive press reports, including the front-page piece in today's Washington Post, convey the misleading impression that the USG is funding warlords to fight extremists in the streets of Mogadishu as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Initial fighting in February between the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Combat Against Terrorism (Alliance) and the Union of Islamic Courts (Union) was sparked by an attack by Union forces on Alliance members. Fighting began again May 7 after Union forces came out of their own areas to attack Alliance members. The week's fighting may have caused as many as 150 deaths, mainly civilians. Fighting has largely stopped as Union forces are running out of ammunition and Alliance forces have blocked their supply routes. Traditional elders brokered a ceasefire on May 14. ¶2. (C) U.S. spokespersons have correctly noted on many occasions that the U.S. works with a wide array of partners in Somalia, in Mogadishu and elsewhere, in efforts to bring to justice al-Qaida terrorists harboring in Somalia. The al-Qaida terrorists in Mogadishu, few in number, constitute the core of the AQ East Africa cell. They masterminded and directed the bombing of our Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998, the twin attacks near Mombasa in 2002, and the planned attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi in ¶2003. The extremists protecting them today are those leading the fighting in Mogadishu under the banner of the Union. Despite this title, the extremists represent but a small fraction of the Islamic courts operating in Mogadishu. ¶3. (C) In the past two weeks, Embassy Nairobi has consulted repeatedly with the Somali President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of the Parliament to discuss possible approaches by the Transitional Federal Government to mediate between the two sides in this conflict. We have coordinated these consultations with the United Nations' Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia. While the conflict has currently subsided, such mediation will be necessary to arrive at a long-term solution to the fighting. Ideally, this role will also serve to strengthen the nascent Transitional Federal Government. ¶4. (SBU) Post proposes the following press guidance in response to public queries or assertions regarding our role in Mogadishu: - The U.S. Government did not instigate, nor does it support, the fighting in Mogadishu. - We have issued both public and private appeals for an end to the fighting. - We support the ceasefire brokered by local elders, which appears to be generally holding. - This fighting serves no one's interest except that of the Islamic extremist militias, who are attempting to gain territory in Mogadishu and to destabilize Somalia's fledgling governing institutions. - We stress that the United States has no objection to Islamic courts, or other independent voluntary organizations, providing support for and necessary services to the long-beleaguered people of Somalia. We do not oppose any specific clan or sub-clan in Mogadishu. - The United States is in close, ongoing contact with the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. We have discussed with the President, Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker and other officials of the TFG ways to end the fighting in Mogadishu. We have also met with members of the business community and have contact with a number of different Somali clans. - We are in close contact as well with the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia and SIPDIS are coordinating with him appeals to cease fighting. - Several members of the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Combat Against Terrorism (ARPCAT) are also parliamentarians and cabinet ministers. We urge them to take up their governing responsibilities and join with the President, Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker and other TFG officials in efforts to counter extremism and stabilize the situation in Mogadishu. NAIROBI 00002165 002 OF 002 BELLAMY