KENYA'S PLANS FOR IGAD MEETINGS ON SOMALIA AND

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001087 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KE SO SU SUBJECT: KENYA'S PLANS FOR IGAD MEETINGS ON SOMALIA AND SUDAN REF: A. SECSTATE 18712 ¶B. NAIROBI 791 ¶1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of Political Affairs Thomas Amolo briefed PolCouns on Kenya's plans as IGAD Chair to host two IGAD meetings in the coming months. The first meeting will focus on Somalia and take place in late April. It is likely to be a ministerial level meeting possibly followed up with a Heads of State summit. Prior to the meeting, Kenya plans to dispatch an MFA official to Mogadishu to "verify what we are hearing from the Transitional Federal Government about their reconciliation efforts." Amolo frankly stated that Kenya's MFA does not give automatic credence to TFG assurances on "the inclusiveness of their approach." Amolo continued, "the Somalia process has acquired sufficient momentum for us to meet soon to discuss how we can best help (President) Yusuf and gage how the AU/IGAD force is faring." Amolo said the U.S. would be informed at least three weeks before the event to encourage the highest possible level of USG representation. ¶2. (SBU) Amolo said that Kenya is also planning to host an IGAD meeting on Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Accord. However the timing on this meeting is uncertain. "We are proceeding very carefully on this topic. We have held preliminary discussions with our friends on both sides, Khartoum and Juba. We want to hear a read out from the Assessment and Evaluation Commission before we proceed further. We will only convene this meeting after thorough consultations with all concerned parties and IGAD members." From Amolo's remarks, it appears as if the Sudan IGAD meeting will not take place until May at the earliest, but he declined to hazard a guess. He did not specify whether that meeting will be at the ministerial or Heads of State level. He reiterated assurances that the USG will receive at least three weeks advance notice. RANNEBERGER