ETHIOPIA: FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM ON OGADEN AND

S E C R E T ADDIS ABABA 002535 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS MOPS KPKO SO ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM ON OGADEN AND SOMALIA REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 2524 ¶B. ADDIS ABABA 2445 Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (S/NF) On August 9, Ambassador discussed Ethiopia's counterinsurgency efforts in the Ogaden and the resulting humanitarian challenges, as well as Ethiopia's military presence in Somalia, with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin. The Ambassador reviewed U.S. Embassy-led meetings on August 3 with NGOs, UN agencies, and foreign missions in Ethiopia (ref B),stressing the importance of coordination with--and action by--the Ethiopian government on humanitarian food deliveries into the Ogaden and the resumption of commercial food flows into the Ogaden. The Foreign Minister, like Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse in a subsequent meeting (ref A),stressed that the government was moving forward in organizing food deliveries, a difficult challenge in the face of military operations and newly laid mines by the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Seyoum and Addisu expressed shock and frustration with the critical press reports led by the New York Times, and strongly worded letters by Senator Leahy and a group of senators organized by Senator Feingold to Secretary Rice on human rights abuse in the Ogaden. The Foreign Minister said while visits would be organized to the Ogaden for the diplomatic corps and press, he expressed deep doubt that Ethiopia could get its side of the story to the media, noting that the U.S. press had made up its mind to stick to its misinformed and highly exaggerated reports. ¶2. (S/NF) On Somalia, the Foreign Minister expressed particular frustration that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force was stuck at 1,600 Ugandan troops, with no likelihood of further troops (such as from Nigeria) joining AMISOM. The cost was so prohibitive, Seyoum remarked, that Ethiopia would be forced to drop its promise to the AU and other countries to stay in Somalia until other troops arrive. The only way Ethiopian troops could stay would be to receive payment. He suggested that if the international community could fund Ethiopian troops as part of an "AMISOM Light" deployment, thus enabling Ethiopia to receive payment, Ethiopia would stay longer until other troops arrived. Seyoum expressed pessimism that if Ethiopian troops were forced to leave prior to establishing a stable government in Somalia, then it would be a "missed" opportunity in the wake of the achievement of its troops in overcoming an extremist government in Somalia by the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC). ¶3. (S/NF) COMMENT. While Ethiopia is trying to address international concerns over human rights abuses and food deliveries to the Ogaden, the slowness of the response and the GOE's failure to effectively refute abuse and explain the extent of the counterinsurgency problem are fueling further negative U.S. press and sharp criticism from the U.S. Congress against the GOE. NGOs report some food deliveries into the Ogaden from Somaliland, and also trucks moving from Dire Dawa, but the amounts are still short of what is necessary to meet the food shortages in the Ogaden. Making the Ethiopian challenge worse is the laying of mines by the ONLF in secondary food delivery roads, as well as a more aggressive intimidation effort against some populace supporting the government. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO