AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SOMALIA TFG SPEAKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 003836

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2026
TAGS: PGOV PTER MOPS ASEC PREL SO KE SU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SOMALIA TFG SPEAKER
SHARIF HASSAN SHEIKH ADEN AUGUST 30

Classified By: Ambassador Michael Ranneberger per 1.5 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador August 30,
the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Speaker of
Parliament gave his view of the current situation in
Somalia, emphasized the need for American involvement and
"neutral" troops, and described his planned approach to
anyone in the Islamic Courts who may want to join the
Transitional government. His expectations for the current
round of negotiations appear modest at best. The Ambassador
reviewed U.S. policy and USG interest in meeting with the
UIC,s Sheikh Sharif in order to deliver a clear message of
U.S. expectations. The speaker welcomed this and offered
to help facilitate such a meeting. He has been invited to
Washington for an NDI program, probably around September

16. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Somali (TFG) Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan
Sheikh Aden came to the Ambassador's residence for a
Breakfast discussion the morning of August 30 before the
Speaker flew to Khartoum. The Speaker was accompanied by
two MPs, one of whom interpreted. Also present were A/DCM
and A/Polcouns (notetaker).

Speaker's Views of Somalia Today
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3. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by laying out U.S.
views, based on previously received guidance from
Washington. He emphasized U.S. interest in working closely
with the TFG. He explained U.S. desire to encourage
moderates within the UIC to assert themselves and to
encourage the UIC to pursue a constructive dialogue with
the TFG with a view to ensuring an inclusive, viable
government. The Ambassador touched, in general terms, on
the message he intends to deliver when he meets with Sheikh
Sharif. The Speaker described Somalia today as "chaotic"
and "in very bad shape." He sees three forces in Mogadishu
now: nationalists, Islamists, and veterans of earlier wars.
The moderates and a "very small group" of extremists have
different policy goals, but for now have the "the same
interests." Those interests are to become a government and
to oppose foreign intervention, particularly from Ethiopia.
Not long ago, the individuals now aligned with the Union of
Islamic Courts (UIC) were incredibly weak militarily, with
only five "technicals." But when they won the people to
their side, they were able to defeat the warlords and seize
their weapons. Having opened the port and airport, they
now have increased access to funding as well. They tell
the people that the government (the TFG) wants to bring in
the hated Ethiopians ("who fought two wars against us, in
1963 and 1977") to "destroy us." In response to the
Ambassador,s question about dynamics within the TFG, Hassan
said that "now it is me and the President and the rest
against the Prime Minister."

Ethiopia No, Neutral and American Involvement, Yes
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4. (C) The Speaker said he had always been against the
presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, because it could
lead to various war scenarios, one of which might be a
proxy war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. "We don't need to
be the nail between the (Ethiopian) hammer and the
(Eritrean) table." Hassan said he had not seen Ethiopian
troops in Somalia, but "people tell me they are there."
Ethiopian intervention is counter-productive, Hassan
emphasized. He stressed that "America needs to be involved
now," and should not have a "wait-and-see" attitude. The
Somali people want American diplomatic intervention, he
claimed. If the international community doesn't act
quickly, "we (i.e. the TFG) will be gone." Hassan said
that "neutral" troops are needed to secure the airport,
port, and presidency in Mogadishu, and to "re-establish" a
Somali military. Hassan said that IGAD forces would be
seen as a proxy for Ethiopia. Once there is a stable
government, the people themselves will turn over the
Embassy bombers "that the U.S. says are in Mogadishu."

Getting the UIC Into the TFG
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5. (C) Admitting that initial hopes for the Khartoum talks
are not high, the Speaker said he was going to "open the
dialogue," not to come up with final positions. Some
elements of the UIC don't want to be in the TFG, but it
might be possible to persuade some to join. The Ambassador
asked what Sharif Hassan would say to moderates. We will
say "you did a good job on security, but we have legitimacy
with the international community. Why not join us? In
three years, there will be elections, and you can contest
them." If they accept, then the TFG can discuss what
positions they want, the Speaker said. Though the
Ambassador sought to draw out Hassan on the possible
formulas for a deal, he would go no further.

Complications: Clan Formulas, the Arab League?
-------------- -


6. (C) The Ambassador asked if the Charter (the
Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic, the
foundational document of the TFIs) was open to amendment if
that was the demand. The Speaker replied that the Charter
could be amended, with Parliament's approval. However,
"what we really fear is that they will completely reject
the Charter," including the "4 point 5" formula for clan
power-sharing. The UIC leaders are "really all from the
Hawiye clan," so if they demand seats in parliament or the
government, it would endanger the formula anyway. Asked by
the Ambassador if the Arab League is playing a positive
role, the Speaker replied that he was unaware of anything
negative about the League's role. However, the Arabs are
being cautious, he said.

Moderates
--------------


7. (C) Asked to identify moderates within the UIC, Sharif
Hassan was hesitant. Apart from talking with Sheikh
Sharif, Hassan urged the U.S. to reach out to businessmen
and intellectuals, but he did not have specific names. The
U.S. and TFG strategy, he emphasized, must be to isolate
extremists within the UIC by appealing to the Somali public
and by pushing Ethiopia and Eritrea to stay out of Somalia,
so as not to provide a unifying point on which extremists
can capitalize. He noted that the TFG has no media means
(particularly radio) for contact with the Somali people.
Hassan named Yusuf Inde Adde as another moderate, saying he
is from the Lower Shabelle area, controls Merka, and is the
UIC security chief. Toward the end of the meeting, he
suggested the UIC head of delegation in Khartoum and
"Foreign Minister," Ibrahim Hassan Addo. The latter is
U.S. educated, and spent years there, the Speaker said.
Sharif Hassan said that he would try to get back to the
Ambassador with names of other moderates.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) The Speaker welcomed increased contact with the
Ambassador and USG interlocutors, and indicated he would
welcome meetings in Washington in connection with his
planned September visit. His unwillingness to discuss
potential detailed formulas for UIC-TFG accommodation
likely reflects divisions within the TFG (as separate
reporting has indicated) regarding parameters for power-
sharing. It is clear that he sees the Khartoum talks as a
means of maintaining official dialogue, but has little
expectation that those talks will yield a solution on the
way forward. Hassan offered to help facilitate a meeting
with Sheikh Sharif, if needed. The Ambassador took note of
the offer. In an interesting bio note, Hassan said that he
was the Catholic Relief Services representative in Somalia
in 1994.
RANNEBERGER