REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM SOMALI PRIME MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002190

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2026
TAGS: PREL PINS EAID SO KE
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM SOMALI PRIME MINISTER

REF: STATE 77563

Classified By: Political Counselor Michael J. Fitzpatrick,
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Embassy Nairobi received May 16 a letter from Somali
Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi requesting, in general terms,
U.S. support for the Transitional Federal Government of
Somalia. Post has sent a generic interim response expressing
USG support for the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs)
and for efforts to bring peace to Mogadishu.


2. (C) As Post prepares its response to reftel, we request
more specific feedback from Washington on what tangible
support to the TFIs may be possible in the near term. As the
TFIs continue to exhibit signs of durability, however subtle,
they will need more noticeable encouragements for progress
than our simple statements of good will. Other players in
the international community are noticeably increasing their
engagement with the TFIs, including high-level travel into
Somalia. Post is able to engage with TFI officials, and
USAID REDSO is able to conduct a certain level of activity
with partners operating inside Somalia, but our travel
restrictions and development assistance hurdles place us on
an unequal footing with our international counterparts, some
of whom can exert a notably negative influence over the
direction of events in Somalia. It is becoming clear that we
must consider a higher level of engagement, both in our
political contacts and our development activities, if we are
to maintain a proportional voice in international
interactions with the TFIs. Such engagement will not be
possible without Washington-level decisions on how to deal
with existing restrictions on direct assistance to the TFIs.


3. (U) Following is the text of the Prime Minister's letter:

Dear Ambassador Bellamy,

The strategic vision and planning for the transitional period
is to secure an enabling environment that sustains in Somalia
a lasting peace which leads to democratic elections, national
recovery and regional integration, through the implementation
of the comprehensive peace agreement signed in Eldoret
(Kenya) in October 27, 2002 and also in October 10, 2004, and
the attainment of a cohesive, accountable and adequately
resourced Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the
Republic of Somalia at the services of its Somali citizens.

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia cannot
materialize the above objectives unless it gets substantial
support from the friendly organizations and countries like
the United States of America. The immediate priorities which
require US Government intervention are the following:

Reconciliation
Political/diplomatic recognition
Security, protection of natural resources and conflict
resolution
Cpapcity building for the Transitional Federal Institutions
Health and education sectors
Humanitarian assistance

As a matter of fact, conflict resolutions can be achieved
through compromise but it requires a grantor of the process.

To this end, only a super power like the US Government can be
a mediator/grantor of such a process to reward and encourage
those abiding by the terms of the compromise or to impose
punitive measures and sanctions against the violators of the
process.

Therefore, the international community support with the
leadership of the US Government is an absolute necessity for
the security and stabilization of Somalia.

Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Ali Mohamed Gedi
Prime Minister
BELLAMY