Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NAIROBI1456
2007-04-02 11:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

Somali Security Chief on Fighting

Tags:  PTER ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL EAID SO ET UG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHNR #1456 0921116
ZNY CCCCC ZZH(CCY DECL DATE AD09D56EC MSI1230-536)
O 021116Z APR 07 ZDS CTG RUEHSD 0003 0930709
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8681
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 3936
INFO RHMFISS/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001456 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (DECL DATE)

NOFORN

SIPDIS

CAIRO FOR A/S FRAZER

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02 APRIL 2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL EAID SO ET UG
SUBJECT: Somali Security Chief on Fighting

Classified by Poloff John O'Leary. Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

Ref: A) Nairobi 1440 B) Nairobi 1173

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001456

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (DECL DATE)

NOFORN

SIPDIS

CAIRO FOR A/S FRAZER

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02 APRIL 2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL EAID SO ET UG
SUBJECT: Somali Security Chief on Fighting

Classified by Poloff John O'Leary. Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

Ref: A) Nairobi 1440 B) Nairobi 1173


1. (C) In the context of a meeting at the Embassy on April 1
with DS agents regarding future VIP travel to Somalia,
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) security chief Mohamed
Warsame Farah (AKA Darawish) discussed the current fighting in
Mogadishu with Poloff. He stated that he had been in Yemen and
Ethiopia during the fighting but was in continual contact with TFG
Mogadishu and was thus up to date on events. He also noted that
he was "always at the President's [Abdullahi Yusuf's] side".


2. (C) According to Farah, TFG and Ethiopian forces engaged
approximately 600 "insurgents" in the fighting that began on
Thursday (3/29). As of Sunday evening (4/1),he estimated that
250 to 300 remained. He believed that resistance would collapse
by today (4/2) because the fighters were hungry, thirsty, and low
on munitions. He rejected the idea of a truce between the Hawiye
clan and the Ethiopian forces on the grounds that the fight was
with terrorist insurgents--not the Hawiye. He stated that the
remnants of al-Shabaab fighters in Mogadishu had fled or were
dead, captured, or about to be dead or captured. He said that
Shabaab leader Ayro had taken refuge in the home of Hawiye leader
Mohamud Uluso and that the home was surrounded by government
forces.


3. (C) According to Farah, most Hawiye support the TFG and
reject extremists. He did not believe that this weekend's
fighting would have any negative effect on the upcoming
reconciliation conference because Somalis were tired of war and
favored destruction of the extremists.


4. (C/NF) According to Farah, remnants of the Islamic Courts are
preparing to regroup and launch a "movement" with the support of
Eritrea, Djibouti, and Doha; but they have no credibility with the
Somali people. He forcefully stated that insurgents would not
return to Mogadishu.


5. (SBU) Concerning aid for the areas devastated by the
fighting, Farah stated that the TFG did not have resources to
launch a relief effort and that assistance would have to come from
the international community. For now, he continued, residents who
fled Mogadishu were trying to make contact with relatives outside
the city for support; in the city, businessman might be providing
some assistance to local residents.


6. (C/NF) Comment. Farah made no distinction between TFG forces
and Ethiopian forces in regard to this weekend's fighting,
declining to note that TFG forces took little part in the battle.
Embassy contacts in Mogadishu, including Hawiye, are unanimous in
their view that the Hawiye perceive the fighting as a battle
between the TFG and their clan, not against terrorist
"insurgents". Most Nairobi-based observers believe that it will
be difficult to hold a meaningful reconciliation conference in the
near term, given the Hawiye perception. End comment.

Ranneberger