Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA603
2007-07-11 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

SOMALIS IN ERITREA PLAN CONFERENCE AND EXPRESS

Tags:  PREL KPKO UNSC ER SO ET 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAE #0603/01 1921350
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111350Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8940
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0111
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0090
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1377
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1554
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 1798
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0404
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0069
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0656
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000603 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC ER SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALIS IN ERITREA PLAN CONFERENCE AND EXPRESS
DESIRE TO ENGAGE

REF: A. DOHA 709

B. ASMARA 375

ASMARA 00000603 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000603

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC ER SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALIS IN ERITREA PLAN CONFERENCE AND EXPRESS
DESIRE TO ENGAGE

REF: A. DOHA 709

B. ASMARA 375

ASMARA 00000603 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a July 5 conversation, exiled Somali MPs
Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim and Fowsiya Mohammad Sheikh Hassan told
Poloff that CIC leader Sheikh Sharif and former Speaker of
the Parliament Sheikh Aden had agreed to establish a joint
preparatory committee for a reconciliation conference. The
proposed conference was an outcome of the June meetings held
in Doha and would provide a venue for a "genuine"
reconciliation conference, in contrast to the upcoming
conference in Mogadishu organized by Somalia's Transitional
Federal Government (TFG). The preparatory committee,
presently meeting in Asmara, is developing a framework and
agenda for the conference, which is to be held either in
Asmara or Doha in early August and will include the exiled
Somali MPs, and representatives from the CIC, TFG, civil
society and diaspora. The aims of the conference are to
establish a unified political opposition and work toward a
peaceful political transition. The MPs categorized the
perception of the CIC as an extremist Islamic group as false,
emphasizing that Sheikh Sharif and his supporters were, in
fact, moderates. The MPs expressed their willingness to
engage in conversations with the TFG in seeking a way forward
towards a peaceful Somalia and appeared to be sounding out
Poloff as an intermediary to communicate their interest to
President Yusuf in initiating talks. End Summary.


2. (C) According to former Somali MPs Yusuf and Fowsiya,
Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Aden directed the establishment of a
preparatory committee following their June 7-8 Doha meetings
(Ref A) to plan for a Somali political reconciliation
conference as an alternative to the TFG conference in
Mogadishu. The committee members, currently resident in
Asmara, include six exiled parliamentarians selected by
Sheikh Aden (including Yusuf and Fowsiya),six CIC members
selected by Sheikh Sharif, three members of the diaspora and

two members of civil society. The planning committee
envisions a conference occurring in early August which would
include representatives of the TFG, exiled parliamentarians,
the CIC, civil society, the clans, the diaspora and the
business community. Tentatively selected venues are Doha or
Asmara, as the MPs stated a meeting in Mogadishu would prove
too dangerous for conference participants. The MPs
reiterated their previous statements that President Yusuf and
his supporters do not truly represent Somalia and therefore
any efforts toward reconciliation led by him would result in
a stilted and disappointing outcome. MP Yusuf commented,
"President Yusuf,s plan is a tribal conference based on the
assumption that the clans are fighting amongst themselves.
There is no tension between the clans, the tension is between
the TFG and the anti-TFG alliances."


3. (C) The stated purpose of the conference is two-fold: to
create a formal opposition that will be able to work with the
TFG and the international community as a united bloc; and to
plan for a peaceful political transition after the TFG
charter expires in 2009. To reach these long-term goals, MP
Yusuf stated the Asmara committee is focusing its immediate
planning efforts on: moving forward a political
reconciliation process; exploring avenues to work with the
TFG; establish a contingency plan for accepting a UN
peacekeeping force in Somalia that would include African
forces and enable the Ethiopian forces to withdraw; and
creating a genuine power sharing agreement within a
post-reconciliation government. Yusuf denied rumors that the
his group was establishing a government-in-exile in Eritrea;
however, Yusuf did comment "if the TFG and President Yusuf
continue to insist that they are the only legitimate
government of Somalia, we (the opposition) will pursue other
options."


4. (C) The MPs acknowledged international concerns about

ASMARA 00000603 002.2 OF 002


extremist elements within the CIC, however, they emphasized
that Sheikh Sharif was a moderate, like most of the CIC
members. As an illustration, Yusuf noted that the
relationship between former TFG Speaker Aden and Sheikh
Sharif formed shortly after the CIC came to power, when the
two began discussions about establishing a possible coalition
government as a means to avoid a war. Unfortunately,
according to MP Yusuf the U.S. and the international
community now wrongly perceive all CIC elements as extremists
and spoilers to a political process. A genuine
reconciliation process would moderate such positions in any
case, as the parliamentarians, civil society and the diaspora
with their "western influence" would serve to balance any
Islamic extremist views. Asserting that Sheikh Sharif and
the CIC were genuinely interested in cooperation with the
U.S. in efforts to counter terrorism, and particular Al'Qaeda
elements, he questioned the wisdom of excluding CIC moderates
from discussions, noting that such actions only serve to
strengthen the extremists. Fowsiya added that while the CIC
extremists di not want women represented in the
reconciliation process, Sheikh Sharif and his supporters
supported greater involvement of women and she has
participated freely in discussions and interactions with the
CIC, indicating to her the prevailing moderate influence.


5. (C) With regards to engaging with the TFG and President
Yusuf, MP Yusuf and MP Fowsiya spoke, for the first time, of
a willingness to begin talks with the TFG. (Note:
Previously, the exiled parliamentarians forcefully stated
they would not negotiate until Ethiopia withdrew and
President Yusuf and Prime Minister Gedi stepped down. End
note.) MP Yusuf now spoke of an interest in working with the
TFG within a process which would lead to Ethiopia's
withdrawal, as evidenced by the committees inclusion of TFG
representatives their proposed reconciliation conference.
Remaining cautious and fearful of Ethiopian influence over
any reconciliation process, MP Yusuf told Poloff he remains
fearful of Ethiopian influence and that they would prefer the
government and the opposition establish a line of
communication outside of Ethiopia's control. Fowsiya further
articulated that "we are not spoilers; we want to contribute
positively to the resolution of the outcomes of Somalia."


6. (C) Comment: In contrast to earlier conversations (Ref
B),the exiled MPs appeared more amenable to opening
discussions with President Yusuf and the TFG than in the
past. Missing from this latest conversation were the
forceful anti-President Yusuf statements and calls for his
removal from power before the MPs would reengage with the
TFG. Similarly, the anti-American sentiment was toned down.
While still displeased by U.S. policy, the MPs seem eager to
continue an open dialogue with us. While the MPs have not
retreated from their position that Ethiopian troops must
withdraw from Somalia; this withdrawal no longer appears to
be a precondition for engagement with the TFG. In fact, the
MPs now seem to view this topic as part of discussions with
the TFG. By stepping back from their previous "all or
nothing" statements and by including a TFG representation in
their proposed conference planning, the MPs may be trying to
open the door for negotiations with the TFG. The MPs also
seemed to be sounding out USG receptivity to serving as
intermediary in delivering this message to President Yusuf.
End Comment.
MCINTYRE