SOMALIA: ETHIOPIAN STATE MINISTER TEKEDA PROPOSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001500

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DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
NAIROBI FOR AMB. RANNEBERGER
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM EAID ET SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: ETHIOPIAN STATE MINISTER TEKEDA PROPOSES
MOGADISHU FOR VENUE OF JOINT APPROACH TO TFG

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 1457


B. ADDIS ABABA 1349

Classified By: ERIC WONG, DEPUTY POL-ECON COUNSELOR. REASON: 1.4 (B) A
ND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda
Alemu informed Ambassador on May 16 that the GOE believed
that Mogadishu was the most effective venue for a joint
U.S.-GOE approach to Somali President Yusuf on political
engagement of Hawiye leaders, as it would provide an
opportunity to hold critically needed follow-up meetings with
Somali leaders from both the Hawiye and Hawiye sub-clans. An
AMISOM base 19 kilometers north of Mogadishu is a possible
venue. Tekeda also expressed concern that previous Ethiopian
pressure on the TFG would be highlighted by meeting in Addis
Ababa. Tekeda said the GOE considered it essential that
Foreign Minister Seyoum personally participate in the meeting
with Yusuf, due to his greater rapport with Yusuf. Tekeda
affirmed that Ethiopia and the U.S. general shared common
objectives with regard to the TFG, but expressed concern that
publicly announcing that appointments of warlords such as
Mohamed Dheere were temporary could render such appointees
ineffective. Tekeda said replacing TFG Prime Minister Ghedi
was only "a matter of timing." Lastly, Tekeda requested U.S.
financial assistance to allow Ethiopian civil servants to
travel to Mogadishu for 1-2 months to assist TFG
administrators and build the TFG's capacity to provide
critically needed government services. END SUMMARY.

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MOGADISHU IS PREFERRED VENUE TO ENGAGE YUSUF AND HAWIYE
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2. (C) State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu
summoned Ambassador on May 16 to follow-up on May 11 (ref A)
and May 15 (septel) discussions with AF DAS Swan and
Counselor for Somali Affairs Amb. John Yates, respectively,
on a joint U.S.-GOE approach to Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia (TFG) President Abdullahi Yusuf.
Minister Tekeda said the GOE believed it was imperative to
conduct such a discussion in Mogadishu, rather than Addis
Ababa or Nairobi, not only to deliver a stern message
privately to Yusuf about enhancing political engagement of
the Hawiye clan, but also to allow for separate political
meetings with Hawiye and Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan
leaders. Tekeda also expressed concern that meeting in Addis
Ababa would only underscore previous GOE pressure on Yusuf.
"We have been ordering him around too much," Tekeda said.


3. (C) Tekeda affirmed that the GOE considered it essential
that Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin (not Tekeda) personally
participate in the joint approach to Yusuf, due to Seyoum's
greater rapport with Yusuf and the fact that Seyoum had
previously had such discussions with Yusuf. As Tekeda
planned to attend the upcoming May 20-21 COMESA ministerial
in Nairobi, he noted that he and a U.S. interlocutor could
approach Yusuf in Nairobi, if Seyoum and the U.S. met Yusuf
later in Mogadishu. Citing security concerns about
Mogadishu, Ambassador noted that an AMISOM base 19 kilometers
north of Mogadishu may be preferable. Tekeda responded that
security in Mogadishu was improving, but added that four
Ugandans had been killed and five wounded in a May 16
landmine incident "along the coast" involving African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces.

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REPLACING PM GHEDI IS ONLY "A MATTER OF TIMING"
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4. (C) Tekeda underscored that Ethiopia and the U.S.
generally shared common objectives with regard to the TFG;
"minor differences related only to tactics or timing:
-- It was imperative that the TFG "win friends" and that "all
legitimate grievances" be addressed, especially political
representation. No matter the reality, Tekeda said, the TFG
was perceived by Somalis as dominated by the
Darod/Harti/Mijerteen sub-clan. While the need to engage the

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Hawiye had drawn much attention, the TFG needed to gain the
support of the Darod/Merehan sub-clan as well.
-- Whereas the U.S. had proposed that the TFG publicly
announce that the appointment of Mohamed Dheere as Governor
of Benadir was only temporary (ref A),Tekeda questioned
whether TFG appointees in such sensitive positions could
remain effective if they were known to be departing soon.
"Quiet assurances" may be preferable instead, he added.
-- The GOE agreed that TFG Prime Minister Ghedi had to be
replaced, as his speech and actions undermined the very
government "he is supposed to be leading." The only issue,
Tekeda said, was when Ghedi would be replaced, as one needed
to prepare for the reaction of Ghedi's Hawiye/Abgal sub-clan.
"There is no love lost between us and the PM," Tekeda said.


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FUNDS NEEDED FOR GOE CIVIL SERVANTS ASSISTING TFG
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5. (C) Noting that the TFG lacked the capacity to provide
governance and social services, Tekeda highlighted the
critical need for U.S. financial assistance to fund Ethiopian
civil servants who would "quietly" travel to Mogadishu for
approximately two months, to advise the TFG on economics,
social services, finance, customs collection, and other
aspects of public administration. Ethiopia could not fund
such experts, due to "foreign currency implications," Tekeda
said, adding that the GOE sought approximately USD250,000.
U.S. experts would also be welcome. Ambassador noted that
previous discussions on security sector reform had involved
training Somali military and security forces outside Somalia,
and that the USG sought to provide USD40 million to Somalia
for security and humanitarian assistance.


6. (C) Citing recent press reports that AU Commission
Chairperson Konare had cautioned against the premature
departure of Ethiopian troops from Somalia, Ambassador asked
whether the GOE had requested financial support from the AU.
Tekeda responded that AU funds had not even been released for
"regular" AMISOM forces: AU Peace and Security Commissioner
Said Djinnit had informed FM Seyoum that while Italy's 10
million Euro contribution was now in an AU account, funds
pledged by the EU remained blocked due to the EU's imposition
of political conditions. Ambassador noted that EU
Development Commissioner Louis Michel's comments on Somalia
garnered public attention, because High Representative Javier
Solana was less vocal.


7. (C) COMMENT. Minister Tekeda's request for U.S. financial
assistance, to allow Ethiopian civil servants to provide
temporary assistance to TFG administrators in Mogadishu,
highlights that the GOE actively seeks to strengthen the
TFG's capacity and is concerned about Somalia's
rehabilitation and reconstruction following the ENDF's
military intervention. The GOE shares the U.S. concern that
TFG President Yusuf must take immediate and concrete steps to
improve political accommodation of Hawiye sub-clans, and
presented a non-paper with these views (forwarded to AF/E and
Embassy Nairobi) to Amb. Yates on the previous day (septel).
END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO