SOMALI AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DETAINED FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001131

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KISL KAWC KJUS SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALI AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DETAINED FOREIGN
FIGHTERS IN ETHIOPIA

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 1079 (NOTAL)


B. ADDIS ABABA 1105


1. (U) SUMMARY. In an April 11 press conference in Addis
Ababa, Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG)
Ambassador to Ethiopia Abdikarin Farah acknowledged that 41
suspected foreign terrorists had been captured in Somalia and
were in Ethiopian custody, and that another 200 were being
detained in Somalia. Stressing Somali responsibility and
Ethiopian assistance in processing the detained suspects,
Farah refuted allegations that suspects were routinely
subjected to torture and human rights abuses. Characterizing
the detention methods as "procedural" and "transparent,"
Farah asserted that suspects had been subjected to "little
more than questioning." The TFG's lack of embassies,
consulates, and high-security prisons required that suspects
be transferred to Ethiopian custody, he explained. Farah
asserted that Mogadishu was experiencing its most peace
period in 16 years: foreign fighters supporting the Council
of Islamic Courts (CIC) were responsible for violent attacks
in Mogadishu, including "terrorist war crimes" targeting NGOs
and schools. END SUMMARY.

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FOREIGN FIGHTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSECURITY IN MOGADISHU
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2. (U) Amb. Farah attributed violence in Mogadishu to foreign
fighters supporting the ousted CIC. He said that Mujahideen
had publicly claimed responsibility on April 10 for recent
attacks in Mogadishu that caused over 100 deaths. Farah
insisted that extremists, particularly al-Shabaab elements of
the CIC, were collectively responsible for more than 300
assassinations during the last 10 months. In recent weeks
the CIC had been targeting intellectuals, women's and
business associations, ex-militia, and TFG supporters.
Referring to these ICU-led attacks as "terrorist war crimes,"
Farah said attacks included shooting down an aircraft
supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),and
firing open shells on schools and restaurants.


3. (U) Farah expressed regret that TFG and ENDF defense
operations had likely resulted in some recent civilian
mortalities, and offered the TFG's apologies. Farah asserted
that Mogadishu was experiencing its most peace period in 16
years, with no reports of killings in Mogadishu from April
1-10.

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TFG CONTINUES POLITICAL OUTREACH TO HAWIYE
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4. (U) Farah highlighted that a significant number of
extremists had been killed over the last several months, and
that immediate threats to TFG and civilian security had been
significantly reduced by the informal ceasefire of the last
10 days. On a parallel note, Farah reported that
"diplomatic" normalcy was beginning to return to Somalia, as
Hawiye elders were making significant progress towards
re-establishing their authority, and had engaged last week in
a series of meetings with TFG PM Ghedi. As the most
problematic of the al-Shabaab leaders had been disavowed by
his elders, the TFG had made recent inroads towards
cross-clan dialogue. Farah said the April 16 reconciliation
conference would likely be delayed a month, while organizing
committees in Nairobi sought further funding for it, but that
the conference was a tremendous tool for continued dialogue.

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41 TERRORISM SUSPECTS DETAINED IN ETHIOPIA
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5. (U) Farah acknowledged that 41 suspected terrorist
fighters were being held in Ethiopia. Of the 41, 29 had been
brought before a military court and would be released; the
remaining 12 would be processed shortly by a military court.
Stressing Somali responsibility and Ethiopian assistance in
processing the detained suspects, Farah refuted allegations
that suspects were routinely subjected to torture and human

ADDIS ABAB 00001131 002 OF 002


rights abuses. Amb. Farah said recent press reports alleging
TFG and Ethiopian human rights abuses of detainees were
"baseless, unfair, inaccurate, and willfully misleading".
Characterizing the detention methods as "procedural" and
"transparent," Farah asserted that suspects had been
subjected to "little more than questioning." The TFG's lack
of embassies, consulates, and high-security prisons required
that suspects be transferred to Ethiopian custody, he
explained.

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ANOTHER 200 FOREIGNERS DETAINED IN SOMALIA
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6. (U) Farah said that approximately 200 additional foreign
detainees remained in Somalia. Citing security and
diplomatic concerns, Farah declined to provide further
details. Farah said that as of April 11, several detainees
had asked not to be placed in contact with their respective
embassies (i.e., rejected consular access),while an as yet
unspecified number of the 200 awaited consular access.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: Amb. Farah sought to underscore the joint
nature of detainee operations, emphasizing cooperation
between Ethiopian forces and TFG authorities. While seeking
to highlight the "transparent" nature of the detentions,
Farah disclosed few new details about the 41 detained foreign
fighters in Ethiopia or the 200 additional fighters detained
in Somalia. Farah did not discuss any individual cases or
nationalities (e.g., detained Amcit Amir Mohamed Meshal) (ref
B),nor did he suggest that any other Amcit was among those
being detained. Separately, Ethiopia's foreign ministry
announced April 9 that the GOE would try 12 detained foreign
fighters in a military court as "suspected terrorists". GOE
authorities were expected to conduct a hearing on April 13 on
the status of foreign fighters detained in Ethiopia, but as
of late April 13 had not publicly announced any decision.
END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO