STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000408 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017 TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO ET SO SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS REF: ADDIS ABABA 311 Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda informed Ambassador on February 5 that he would personally meet with Ayr sub-clan leaders from Somalia being hosted by the GOE in Addis Ababa. Tekeda reiterated previous remarks by Prime Minister Meles (reftel) that providing compensation to Somalis whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr remained key to political reconciliation in Somalia. Minister Tekeda expressed gratitude for strong U.S.-Ethiopian relations, but appealed for further institutionalization of the partnership. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On February 5, Ambassador hosted a luncheon for State (i.e., deputy) Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu. MFA Acting Director General for Europe and America Almaz Amha, as well as MFA Europe and American General Directorate Counsellor Ayalew Mamo and Third Secretary Adam Tesfaye, accompanied Minister Tekeda. -------------- -------------- ADDIS ABABA HOSTING MEETING OF AYR SUB-CLAN LEADERS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Tekeda informed Ambassador that the GOE was now sponsoring a meeting of Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan leaders in Addis Ababa, recognizing that political accommodation of the Ayr (the principal backers of the Council of Islamic Courts, or CIC) was key to ensuring Somalia's stability. While many had focused on the rights of the Ayr, the Ayr also had responsibilities, he said. Deciding whether to provide restitution or compensation to Somali land-owners whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr remained an important challenge for Somalia's Transitional Federal government (TFG); Tekeda could not confirm whether the TFG had formed a land restitution commission (as had been claimed by EC Development Commissioner Louis Michel). ¶4. (C) While recognizing the TFG's weak governing capacity, Tekeda dismissed concerns about "noise making" individuals such as former CIC Executive Committee Chairman Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who Tekeda said should be allowed to seek refuge in Yemen, as he would remain under surveillance. Instead, USG efforts should concentrate on Somali clan and business leaders. ¶5. (C) Tekeda and other GOE ministers continue efforts to lobby potential troop contributing countries to support the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Tekeda said he was "well received" during a recent visit to South Africa, but that South Africa's commitment (in terms of financing and military support) fell short of expectations. -------------- STRENGTHENING U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶6. (C) Ethiopia recognized that closer engagement with the United States was in Ethiopia's national interest, Tekeda said. He hailed strong bilateral ties, noting that Emperor Haile Selassie had visited President Roosevelt during the 1940s, and that the U.S. was free of any colonial legacy in Africa. To further strengthen ties, however, Tekeda appealed for establishing an institutional framework involving military, intelligence, and security service officials. Rather than simply acknowledge Ethiopia as a "fragile state," the USG should recognize Ethiopia's strategic role in promoting peace and stability in the region, Tekeda said. ¶7. (C) Tekeda complained about the subjectivity of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) country rankings for Ethiopia, noting that Ethiopia often scored the same as Eritrea, despite the latter's greater intransigence toward the international community. Ambassador responded that resolution of the ongoing prosecution of political detainees would help improve Ethiopia's standing. ¶8. (C) COMMENT: State Minister Tekeda and the GOE see the ADDIS ABAB 00000408 002 OF 002 Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan as critical to stabilization in Mogadishu, and are actively pursuing TFG-Ayr reconciliation. We will follow-up on his proposal for regular joint U.S.-Ethiopia working-level meetings to enhance our strong bilateral ties. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO