Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA234
2007-01-25 17:50:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

SOMALIA: PRIME MINISTER MELES URGES DIPLOMACY

Tags:  PREL PINR MOPS MASS ET SO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHDS #0234/01 0251750
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O 251750Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4256
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000234 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2032
TAGS: PREL PINR MOPS MASS ET SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: PRIME MINISTER MELES URGES DIPLOMACY
TAKE CENTER STAGE

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASONS: 1.4 (A),(B),(D).

(U) CORRECTED COPY: TO REVISE CLASSIFICATION.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000234

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2032
TAGS: PREL PINR MOPS MASS ET SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: PRIME MINISTER MELES URGES DIPLOMACY
TAKE CENTER STAGE

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASONS: 1.4 (A),(B),(D).

(U) CORRECTED COPY: TO REVISE CLASSIFICATION.


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. Prime Minister Meles called the USG's
AC-130 strike "terrific" in targeting extremists without any
civilian casualties, but termed the Washington Post press
report--less than 24 hours after the strike--as unacceptable.
The leak comes as Meles hosts the African Union summit with
some 30 heads of state arriving in Addis to select a new AU
Assembly Chair. Meles said the strike has made it difficult
to keep the Arab League, European Union, and some African
states focused on support for IGASOM and peace-building in
Somalia. PM Meles made it clear that there would be no/no
suspension of either activities (i.e., targeting and
intelligence-sharing) by our fusion cell or any other
intelligence-sharing operations, and that the GOE and USG
must continue cooperation. He reasserted the commitment by
the Ethiopian military (ENDF) to maintain its objectives of
striking against high-value individuals/targets (HVI/HVT).
But Meles underscored that the headlines and center stage of
attention for Somalia must be diplomacy and peace-building,
not U.S. military operations. The PM questioned the secrecy
of the AC-130 gunship location, and requested that for
operational security, the aircraft should depart the area.
In addition, he requested that there not/not be any U.S.
military strikes in Somalia, for now, due to lack of
operational security. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
GOE COMMITTED TO MIL-MIL RELATIONS AND STRIKING HVI/HVT
-------------- --------------


2. (S/NF) Ambassador met privately with Prime Minister Meles
on January 25 to discuss the GOE decision to suspend
operations by our fusion cell on Somalia. He replied that
there was No/No suspension of mil-to-mil relations, and that

operations, specifically intelligence-sharing and targeting
of HVI/HVT, must continue. His generals met today, he said,
but tomorrow we could resume all contacts and
information-sharing.


3. (S/NF) The Prime Minister made it clear that the ENDF
will continue its objectives of neutralizing extremist
elements and HVI/HVT, and that Ethiopia welcomes information
from the USG. The PM stressed that information and material
obtained from Somalia is fully accessible and will be openly
shared with the USG. He underscored the importance of
Ethiopia's bilateral relationship with the United States.

--------------
LEAKS TO MEDIA CAUSE PROBLEMS
--------------


4. (S/NF) PM Meles termed the second AC-130 gunship strike on
January 23 as "terrific." The targets were hit, and there
were no civilian casualties. The problem was that in less
than 24 hours after the strike, the Washington Post published
a report on it, clearly showing there is no "opsec" on these
military operations, he said. (NOTE: The press leak comes at
a very sensitive time. PM Meles is hosting the African Union
Summit, which will attract over 30 heads of state to select a
new AU Assembly chair. END NOTE.) The headlines on Somalia
are not diplomacy and peace-building, but U.S. military
operations. This has caused the Arab League and European
Union, as well as some African states, to question/weaken
support for IGASOM and peace-building in Somalia, the Prime
Minister remarked. (NOTE: In a subsequent meeting with
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda, Ambassador was told
that the focus of Ethiopia was military operations, and that
Ethiopia was operating under the "thumb" of the United
States, thus detracting from the overall objective of
Ethiopia to promote peace-building in Somalia. END NOTE.)

-------------- --------------
END AC-130 STRIKES; REFRAIN FROM MILITARY STRIKES
-------------- --------------


5. (S/NF) The Prime Minister questioned whether the location

ADDIS ABAB 00000234 002 OF 002


of the AC-130 gunships could be protected. He requested that
for opsec purposes the gunships be removed from the area. In
addition, the Prime Minister requested that the U.S. refrain
from further military strikes in Somalia, which would
dominate press headlines and detract from the current efforts
to push for IGASOM deployment and peace-building in Somalia.
He stated that his ENDF would act on information relating to
where extremists were located. (NOTE: The ENDF has been
effective in acting quickly and engaging targets. END NOTE.)

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (S/NF) We recommend compliance with the Prime Minister's
request for removal of the AC-130 aircraft. Heavy press
interest has made it difficult to secure and protect AC-130
operations. The Somalia fusion cell continues to provide an
important function welcomed by the Ethiopians. The fusion
cell will be able to deconflict and support ENDF operations,
as well as maintain close U.S.-Ethiopian mil-mil ties. We
also recommend that during General Abizaid's farewell call on
the Prime Minister, the potential problem of extremists
returning to Mogadishu be addressed. For the ENDF and GOE,
in the long term, the concern is that if extremists are not
dealt with effectively, they could raise serious challenges
to the fragile TFG. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO