SOMALIA - HAWIYE/ETHOPIAN "TRUCE"

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001335 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CHANGED SUBJECT LINE "TFG APPOINTMENTS" TO "SOMALIA - HAWIYE/ETHIOPIAN "TRUCE" SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET SUBJECT: SOMALIA - HAWIYE/ETHOPIAN "TRUCE" REF: Nairobi 1322 Classified by PolOff Benedict. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Subject: Somalia -- Hawiye/Ethiopian "Truce" ¶1. (C) After heavy fighting midweek (reftels),Ethiopia opened talks yesterday with Hawiye leaders in Mogadishu. Reportedly the Hawiye told the Ethiopians they see three options: the Ethiopians can remain in Somalia as a neutral force while Somalis work out their own problems; the Ethiopians can continue to support President Yusuf, who the Hawiye view as a Darood leader who is their enemy; or, if they do neither, they can leave the country and again let the Somalis work out their own problems. Both sides agreed to continue their talks on Saturday, and in the interim abide by a "truce." ¶2. (C) We have sought to engage Hawiye leaders to counsel against an escalation in violence and to promote dialogue and reconciliation. The question of who are key contacts from within the "Hawiye opposition" has triggered separate meetings among the group to determine their public face. In response to our requests, and others, for leadership contacts among the "Hawiye opposition," after some internal consultations they have come up with the following names: -- Axmed Diiriye (Haber Gedir/Suleiman): Spokesman -- Haji Abdi Imaam Omar (Abgal/Harti) -- Ma'alin Mohamed Ahmed (Mudullood/Wa'adhan) -- Abdidahir Ugaas Nur (Haber Gedir/Ayr) -- Islaw Hussein Ali Nur (Gaalje'el) -- Abdirahman Jim'aale Ossoble (Hawaadle) -- Aden Sheikh Nur (Murosade) ¶3. (C) Reportedly the Hawiye told the Ethiopians that they were fighting to defend themselves as Hawiye, not as al Qaeda or any other organization. In further internal Hawiye discussions, the Abgal were quick to distance themselves from the Islamic Courts. However, Haber Gedir were not, and planned to meet today, March 23, to discuss the issue of whether they wanted to negotiate as associated with the Islamic Courts or simply as Hawiye. RANNEBERGER