Somalia--Round Two of TFG/Hawiye Talks

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001996

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somalia--Round Two of TFG/Hawiye Talks


Classified by POLOFF Hodan Hassan. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Transitional Federal Government
President Abdullahi Yusuf met with elders from the Hawiye
clan for a second time since the fighting ended on April

28. The talks were reportedly cordial although PM Gedi
evidenced continued hostility towards the elders. There
appear to be indications of strain, however, among the
elders over their collective approach to the TFG. End
Summary.


2. (C) On May 6, President Abdullahi Yusuf and elders
from the Hawiye clan met for the second time since fighting
ended on April 28. The meeting included President Yusuf,
Prime Minster Gedi, and more than 50 Hawiye elders. Sources
close to both the TFG and the elders indicate the
discussions were "relatively" useful.


3. (C) In the days before the second meeting, the Hawiye
elders consulted with civil society and political groups to
develop a common platform for discussions with the TFG.
According to a civil society activist, the various groups
reached general consensus on most issues. However, a group
of businessmen and intellectuals led by Hussein Haji Bood
(Hawiye/Abgal) did not agree with some of the points in a
letter drafted for President Yusuf, including the request
for the immediate withdrawal by Ethiopia. Bood argued that
any requests regarding a withdrawal of Ethiopian forces
should be discussed directly with the Ethiopians. They
reportedly preferred taking a more conciliatory or softer
approach in language and substance.


4. (C) Prominent Hawiye elder and chairman of the Hawiye
Leadership Committee Haji Abdi Iman urged the rest of his
colleagues to reach consensus with Bood and his group
before meeting with the TFG. In a conversation with Embassy
PolOff, Abdi Iman explained his concern that future talks
with the TFG could be unsuccessful if key constituents
within the Hawiye felt excluded from the dialogue. The
majority of the Hawiye Leadership Committee's members opted
to continue with plans to meet with the TFG despite the
inability to reach consensus with the Bood group. According
to a source close to the elders, they believed delaying
discussions with the TFG could slow down the momentum and
play into the hands of those not interested in a successful
outcome of the talks.


5. (C) Abdi Iman declined to attend the talks with the
TFG, stating that the community had not yet achieved broad
consensus. He refuted claims in the media that his absence
is evidence of a major rift among the Hawiye elders. Abdi
Iman reiterated in a conversation with Embassy POLOFF and
in media interviews with Somali press that speculation
about a major fallout is exaggerated; and he is still
optimistic that discussions with the TFG can be successful.


6. (C) In the meeting with the TFG, the elders presented a
letter outlining their key grievances and making
suggestions for a way forward. President Yusuf promised to
study the letter and to constitute a committee (Comment.
Whether the committee has been constituted or the nature of
its composition is not yet known. End Comment.) to lead
the way on further negotiations. A date for the next
meeting has not yet been set.


7. (C) In a call to the Ambassador on 3 May, PM Gedi
expressed confidence that the talks with the Hawiye elders
would be successful. He said the TFG asked the elders to
form an 11-person committee (Comment. This would seem to be
a different committee than the one referred to in paragraph
six. End Comment) to engage with the TFG on future
negotiations. Ambassador Ranneberger emphasized the
importance the U.S. attaches to dialogue and to an
inclusive political dialogue.

RANNEBERGER