Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA3086
2007-10-19 11:01:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

SOMALIA: GEDI APPEARS COMMITTED TO STAYING ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL SO ET 
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003086 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: GEDI APPEARS COMMITTED TO STAYING ON


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Deborah Malac for reasons 1.4 (B) and
(D).

SUMMARY
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003086

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: GEDI APPEARS COMMITTED TO STAYING ON


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Deborah Malac for reasons 1.4 (B) and
(D).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (S) Despite looking somber and deflated after two days of
consultations with the Ethiopian Government (GoE),Somali
Prime Minister Mohammed Gedi appeared committed to
maintaining hold on the Prime Ministership in an October 19
meeting with the Charge and Political Chief. Although he
would not explicitly comment on whether or not he would
resign or otherwise leave office, Gedi spoke of his plans to
return to Baidoa tomorrow and to bring an end to the on-going
political crisis within the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) within the next few days. Opening the discussion by
citing recent terrorist strikes and concluding with "I know
that the United States is behind us," Gedi employed obvious
counter-terrorism partnership allusions apparently to
convince the United States that his continued role is
critical to U.S. security interests in the Horn of Africa.
He emphasized this by arguing that the "collapse of the TFG
would mean the death of the Somali people." End Summary.

GEDI ON WHY WE NEED GEDI
--------------


2. (S) Prime Minister Gedi requested a meeting with Embassy
Addis after nearly two days of consultations with Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles, Foreign Minister Seyoum and State
Minister Tekeda. Gedi opened the meeting by highlighting
recent increased insecurity and expansion of extremist
training camps in Somalia. He highlighted recent terrorist
strikes and increased extremist activity in Kenya and
Djibouti. Gedi argued that the international media links
Bush, Meles, and Gedi. "Since the terrorists link us," Gedi
stated "we must stick together."


3. (S) After opening with security issues, Gedi quickly moved
to highlight his role in seeking to build on the results of
the National Reconciliation Congress (NRC) and increase
inclusiveness in the existing political process. He noted
that shortly after the NRC, he met with Somali business
leaders in Djibouti, secured their agreement to engage in

reconciliation efforts, and returned to Mogadishu with some
of these leaders in tow. He highlighted outreach to the
Hawiye community and claimed to have succeeded in getting
them to recognize that they can contribute to this process.
Gedi also took credit for bringing together elders from the
Kismayo area to help resolve tensions between them. Gedi
claimed that there is "goodwill on all parts," but progress
can only occur if there is a secure environment. The current
conflict within the TFG, however, is fueling instability and
providing space for terrorists to re-emerge, he said.

MOVING FORWARD
--------------


4. (S) Charge echoed the argument that the current political
infighting within the TFG provides an opening for extremists
and those seeking to undermine the TFG and pressed Gedi on
how he aimed to resolve that tension. Speaking solely in the
future tense and using the "we" pronoun, Gedi argued that
upon returning to Baidoa on October 20, the TFG leadership
will seek to find a shared solution to the political crisis
through dialogue that results in TFG unity. Gedi emphasized
that now is not the time for the TFG to divide themselves as
that would only provide space for terrorists. While the
Charge noted that these times call for difficult decisions
and statesmanship by leaders, Gedi punted by responding that
"we" will come up with a tangible solution in the next few
days.


5. (S) Moving beyond the immediate political crisis, the
Charge stressed that the TFG must also address how it
conducts itself as the existing governing framework for the
remainder of the transitional period, noting the USG's
commitment to support that process. Gedi acknowledged the
issue but refrained from commenting substantively on it,
noting instead that "we" must find a solution and plan how
our partners can help. He lamented the minimal support from
the international community that the TFG has received over

ADDIS ABAB 00003086 002 OF 002


the past three years, and argued that donors must help the
TFG "like parents nurturing young children."

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


6. (S) While Gedi played his cards close to chest and avoided
commenting on the question of whether he would resign or
press to retain his position, his arguments and word choice
seemed to indicate to Post that he has no intention of
resigning or taking the "gentleman's way out." Despite his
words and tone, however, Gedi certainly did not appear the
confident Prime Minister that visited Washington in late
June. Instead, what was certainly a frank and direct round
of consultations with the GoE left him appearing
significantly somber and diminished. After briefing EU
ambassadors and the African Union leadership this afternoon,
Gedi returns to Baidoa tomorrow likely to face a major
political challenge within Parliament in Baidoa.
MALAC