Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA92
2007-01-12 11:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM ON SOMALIA: INTERNATIONAL

Tags:  AU EAID MOPS PREL PTER ET SO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6597
PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #0092/01 0121109
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121109Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4039
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000092 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS ROME FOR AF WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: AU EAID MOPS PREL PTER ET SO
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM ON SOMALIA: INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO ACT NOW

REF: ADDIS ABABA 87 (RETRANSMITTED AS ADDIS 89 TO ALL
ADDRESSEES)

Classified By: DCM Janet Wilgus for reasons 1.4 B and D.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000092

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS ROME FOR AF WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: AU EAID MOPS PREL PTER ET SO
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM ON SOMALIA: INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO ACT NOW

REF: ADDIS ABABA 87 (RETRANSMITTED AS ADDIS 89 TO ALL
ADDRESSEES)

Classified By: DCM Janet Wilgus for reasons 1.4 B and D.


1. (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Seyoum briefed Addis
Ababa-based Ambassadors Donor Group on Somalia on January
11, making two main points: 1) the dispatch of a
stabilization force to Somalia, and especially Mogadishu, is
urgent, and the international community should engage at all
levels to make this happen; and 2) the TFG is actively taking
steps towards national reconciliation and dialogue; the
international community should not try to micro-manage this
Somali-Somali effort. Immediate delivery of assistance for
humanitarian needs and for the transitional process will
serve to create hope and strengthen the reconciliation
process. End summary.


2. (C) On January 11 Foreign Minister Seyoum gave a briefing
on Somalia to the Addis Ababa-based Ambassadors Donor Group
(ADG, a grouping of countries that provide support to
Ethiopia; about 24 countries and international organizations
(UNDP, AfDB) were represented.)

-------------- --
Support and encourage TFG but no conditionality
-------------- --


3. (C) FM Seyoum emphasized the importance of immediate
international community engagement to take advantage of the
new reality in Somalia. He cautioned the ADG that they
should not try to micromanage the Somali reconciliation and
dialogue process, stating that there should be no
conditionality and no outside attempts to place specific
individuals within the process. Somalis must manage this
process themselves, he emphasized, and he appealed for
outsiders to give Somalis the benefit of the doubt; encourage
and support them, but place no conditions on support. He
specifically mentioned travel of the TFG Speaker of
Parliament to Brussels, Italy and elsewhere in Europe as not
helpful.


4. (C) Specific action to support the TFG in its
reconciliation efforts, the FM said, should include highly
visible humanitarian assistance as well as cash support that
would enable the TFG to create a regular national military
and integrate the clan militias into a national force; to set
up local police forces; and to provide some livelihood
support for those not eligible for military or law
enforcement recruitment. FM Seyoum stated that Kenya has
provided $1 million to the TFG, which is currently without
resources.


5. (C) FM Seyoum also called on the ADG to support and
encourage the establishment of a "neutral stabilization
force" recruited from African countries. He stated that
Kenya has sent missions to nine African countries and that
next week Ethiopia delegations would be traveling to 11
African countries. The international community must step up
to ensure that there is no security vacuum in Somalia and
should provide its encourage and support to African countries
as well. The African Union assessment mission to Somalia,
which may report early next week, is also an important step
in gaining regional support.

--------------
Warlords: We didn't do it for you
--------------


6. (C) Addressing the questions of security in Mogadishu,
FM Seyoum said that Ethiopia did not go into Somalia to bring
back warlordism, and they have made this abundantly clear to
the TFG and the warlords. The TFG president is meeting with
warlords (many of whom are parliamentarians) in Baidoa (and
those currently in Mogadishu have been ordered back to
Baidoa),he said, in order to negotiate a disarmament and
reintegration plan. Such a plan calls for setting up five
camps throughout Somalia where militias can register and be
recruited into the new national military or assisted with
livelihood support. Former warlords need to become part of

ADDIS ABAB 00000092 002 OF 002


the transitional political process. FM Seyoum reminded the
ADG that Somalis are tired of conflict and stated that
Ethiopian troops are not imposing stability -- the Somalis
themselves are working to make this happen.

--------------
... and phased withdrawal
--------------


7. (C) Ethiopia will not stay indefinitely in Somalia, FM
Seyoum stated. He expected that there would be phased
withdrawal over a fairly short period. While he said that
the arrival of a neutral peace-keeping force is not a
pre-condition for Ethiopian withdrawal, he called on the
international community to take the responsibility to ensure
that there is no security vacuum in Somalia.
YAMAMOTO