Somalia-Ambassador's Letters to TFG President and

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001931

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somalia-Ambassador's Letters to TFG President and
Hawiye Elder

REF: Nairobi 1905

Classified by POLOFF Hodan Hassan. Reasons 1.4 (d)


1. (U) Following telecon with Hawiye Leadership Committee
Chairman Haji Abdi Iman Omar, and in an effort to support
the critical dialogue process, the Ambassador sent the
following letters to Transitional Federal Government
President Abdullahi Yusuf and Chairman Haji Abdi Iman
(Imaam).


2. (C) The text of the letter to Yusuf reads as follows:

Quote.

Dear Mr. President:

As we have discussed, meaningful dialogue between the
Transitional Federal Government, and particularly yourself,
with all Somalis who renounce violence and extremism, and
especially with the Hawiye clan in Mogadishu, are critical
to achieve national reconciliation. As Assistant Secretary
Frazer stated during the meeting in Baidoa, we strongly
feel that the only way to ensure stability and security is
through an inclusive political process.

I therefore want to express the appreciation of the United
States for the steps you personally have taken over the
past several days to foster such dialogue and to ensure
that there is no further return to conflict.

In this regard, I called Haji Abdi Imaam Omar yesterday to
discuss recent developments.

--He was positive about your constructive attitude in the
discussions you had with the Hawiye elders on Sunday, April

29. He expressed his commitment to continue the dialogue
with the TFG to ensure the peaceful and mutually acceptable
resolution of outstanding issues.
--I emphasized to Mr. Omar, as I also emphasize to you, the
critical importance of agreeing to a permanent ceasefire
and developing a credible agenda for the upcoming National
Reconciliation Congress, to include power-sharing and a
roadmap to the 2009 elections.
--I also stressed the need for the Hawiye to take whatever
steps are necessary to marginalize extremists and those who
espouse violence. Mr. Omar assured me that his community is
committed to doing this.

I believe that these discussions hold the potential to
achieve lasting peace and a successful National
Reconciliation Congress. In that sprit, I want to
emphasize U.S. support for the dialogue that you have
underway.

On a related issue, I understand that there may be attempts
in the Transitional Federal Parliament to pass legislation
that would eliminate the independent status of the National
Governance Reconciliation Committee and place it under the
management of the government. While I do not want to
interfere in the matters of the Parliament, I would like to
emphasize that any steps that affect the ability of the
National Governance Reconciliation Committee to operate
independently will discourage meaningful participation in
the National Reconciliation Congress and will severely
diminish its legitimacy.

I want to assure you that the United States will continue
to support the efforts to achieve stability and security in
Somalia. I look forward to remaining in close contact.

End quote.


3. (C) The text of the letter to Omar reads as follows:

Quote.

Dear Mr. Omar:

It was a pleasure to talk with you yesterday on the on-
going political developments in Mogadishu. As we had
discussed, meaningful dialogue between the Transitional
Federal Government with all Somalis who renounce violence
and extremism, and especially with the Hawiye clan in
Mogadishu, are critical to achieve national reconciliation.
As Assistant Secretary Frazer stated during her press
conference in Baidoa, we strongly feel that the only way to

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ensure stability and security is through an inclusive
political process.

I therefore want to express the appreciation of the United
States for the steps you and the Hawiye Leadership
Committee have taken over the past several days to engage
in such dialogue and to ensure that there is no further
return to conflict.

In this regard, I sent a letter to President Abdullahi
Yusuf to reaffirm the following points:

--I expressed appreciation for the constructive attitude in
the discussions he had with the Hawiye elders on Sunday,
April 29.
--I emphasized to President Yusuf, as I also emphasize to
you, the critical importance of agreeing to a permanent
ceasefire and contributing to the development of a credible
agenda for the upcoming National Reconciliation Congress,
to include power-sharing and a roadmap to the 2009
elections.
--I also stressed the need to safeguard the independent
status of the National Governance Reconciliation Committee
in order to encourage meaningful participation in the
National Reconciliation Congress.

I believe that the discussions you are having with
President Yusuf hold the potential to achieve lasting peace
and a successful National Reconciliation Congress. In that
sprit, I want to emphasize U.S. support for the dialogue
that you have underway.

I want to assure you that the United States will continue
to support the efforts to achieve stability and security in
Somalia. I look forward to remaining in close contact.

End quote.

RANNEBERGER