Somaliland -- Foreign Minister on the Way Forward

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 003373

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somaliland -- Foreign Minister on the Way Forward

REF: A) Nairobi 3350 B) Nairobi 3338

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


1. (C) Summary. On August 20, the Ambassador held
consultations with Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdillahi
Mohamed Duale (at his request) to discuss the full range of
issues in the U.S.-Somaliland relationship. Topics
included the arrest of opposition political leaders,
elections and recognition, the situation in Somalia, and a
possible fall 2007 visit to Washington for President
Riyaale. Duale presented a detailed Aide Memoire on
Somaliland positions on current issues (Ref A) and a reply
letter from President Riyaale to the Ambassador on the
Qaran case (Ref B) End Summary.

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Qaran Controversy
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2. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by expressing
grave concern with the reported sentencing of the leaders
of the Qaran political association. (Comment: Three
officials from Qaran, a relatively new political
association, were charged with forming an illegal political
party and sentenced to three years and eight months in
prison. They were also banned from participating in
politics for five years. End Comment) The Ambassador
emphasized that the jailing of the opposition figures
undercut Somaliland's credibility as a developing
democracy. The Ambassador emphasized that U.S.-Somaliland
relations are essentially based on three pillars: U.S.
interest in supporting Somaliland as a developing
democracy, working together to promote stability in the
Horn of Africa, and cooperation against terrorism. He
indicated that the actions against the Qaran cloud
Somaliland's image as a developing democracy and therefore
potentially affect our relationship.


3. (C) Duale presented the Ambassador with a response
letter (REF B) from President Riyaale on the subject of the
Qaran arrests. He strongly defended the decision by the
government to arrest and to sentence the Qaran officials.
He accused the group of operating under the guise of a
political association, but in reality engaging in early
campaigning before the rules and procedures for the
upcoming elections are determined. Duale added that Qaran
had opened offices and their activities were causing unrest
and instability. He also mentioned that Dr. Mohamed Abdi
Gaboose, the leader of Qaran, is an Islamic Courts Union
sympathizer and started an Islamic-oriented political party
before the previous local elections in 2002.


4. (C) Mohamed Nur Ahmed, Somaliland's Honorary Councilor
in Kenya, added that it was common knowledge that the son
of Mohamed Hashi (Gaboose's deputy) was killed in southern
Somalia last year while fighting with the Islamic Courts.
He also implied that Eritrea is playing a destabilizing
role in Somaliland. (Comment: Most close followers of
Somaliland politics discount allegations by the government
that Qaran is a front for either the Eritreans or Islamic
radicals. Qaran appears to have successfully tapped a well
of public frustration with the government and the existing
opposition parties. In an aside with Nur following the
meeting, he told us the government "panicked," and arrested
the Qaran officials primarily because of their political
success. End Comment)


5. (C) The Ambassador stated that whether the Qaran
officials were guilty of a breach of the law or
constitution, the perception of many is that the government
is acting to thwart any potential opposition in advance of
the elections. Duale provided repeated assurances of the
government's "commitment" to democracy. He stressed that
U.S. concerns are about the Qaran issue are being taken
seriously. Pressed, he pleaded for U.S. patience, since
the matter has not worked its way through the court system.
He stated that an appeal is pending. Duale also stated
that the President will have some discretion in resolution
of this matter following the outcome of the judicial
proceedings. He hinted, but by no means guaranteed, that a
way may be found to eventually release the Qaran prisoners.
Duale also welcomed observers from the United States to
Somaliland in order to observe judicial proceedings. In
response to the Ambassador's inquiry, Duale also said that
the ICRC and/or Amnesty International would be given access
to the Qaran prisoners. The Ambassador emphasized that the
Somaliland government should take steps to resolve the

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issue expeditiously. He reiterated that this ongoing
matter taints Somaliland's democratic credentials and
clouds the U.S.-Somaliland relationship. The Ambassador
made clear that it would be preferable to have issue
resolved before a presidential trip to the United States.

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Staying the Course on Elections
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6. (C) Duale acknowledged that there are serious delays in
preparations for the proposed local municipal elections in
December 2007. He laid much of the blame on the
opposition-controlled lower house of parliament, which he
accused of deliberately blocking efforts to confirm the
last two members of the National Election Committee (NEC)
and pass the 2007 budget. Duale said there are efforts
currently underway by what he called "a wisemen's group"
composed of various elements of civil society and elders
to mediate between the executive and the parliament. He
recognized the significant challenges involved in carrying
out a voter registration exercise in advance of the
December municipal elections. However, Duale was adamant
that the government is not in favor of postponing the
elections, stating "we must get it done." He requested
support from the U.S. to assist in the preparations for the
elections. The Ambassador highlighted the on-going support
through the International Republican Institute and CARE for
political processes in Somaliland.

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Offer to Assist on Somalia crisis
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7. (C) Duale emphasized Somaliland's concern about the on-
going instability in southern Somalia. He indicated that
the government will send a letter to the UN Secretary
General's Special Representative for Somalia Francois Fall
offering to share Somaliland's experiences in
reconciliation and peace-building. Duale said that the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is doing the "exact
opposite" of what Somaliland did to achieve peace and
security. He pointed to the importance of a grassroots-
based approach to reconciliation that would be truly
inclusive. Duale noted that the success in ending internal
civil strife in Somaliland was ultimately the result of
power-sharing arrangements that included all the key
stakeholders. He implied strongly that the absence of a
stable political solution in Somalia is due to a lack of
political will on the part of Somalia's leaders.

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Recognition Efforts
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8. (C) Duale highlighted the efforts of Somaliland to
promote the case for recognition within Africa. Somaliland
officials remain actively engaged with the African Union on
the issue. As an example, he pointed to Ghana's insistence
that the issue be discussed at the recent AU summit in
Accra. Duale said he learned from an official in the
Kenyan Foreign Ministry that efforts to engage the Inter-
Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to support
recognition have been thwarted by Uganda. He asked that
the U.S. encourage Uganda not to scuttle attempts to bring
IGAD into discussions on recognition for Somaliland.

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Possible Washington Trip
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9. (C) Duale said the Somaliland government is flexible in
the dates for travel to Washington by the president. He
suggested another more substantive meeting take place at a
location of our choosing to discuss an agenda and expected
outcomes for a Washington trip. Duale agreed with the
Ambassador's suggestion that general topics for possible
discussion in Washington include: fostering regional
security; cooperating to fight terrorism; promoting
stability and security in Somalia; supporting
democratization and development in Somaliland; and
addressing the way forward with respect to encouraging
African consideration of recognition for Somaliland. Duale
mentioned he heard of Assistant Secretary Frazer's possible
visit to Addis around September 7 and made a request to
meet with her there. Duale agreed that a visit during the
fall following the UNGA would be appropriate timing. He
also strongly agreed with the Ambassador's point that it is

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important to avoid exaggerated expectations for the visit.

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Djibouti
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10. (C) In a following private discussion with the
Ambassador, Duale appealed for help with Djibouti. He
reviewed the recent history of that relationship, noting
that Somaliland has had an office there. Djibouti, Duale
said, had agreed to open an office in Somaliland but never
did. Duale went into a fairly convoluted discussion of the
difficulties with Djibouti, with the bottom line being that
they are due to clan/tribal issues. He said that the
Djiboutian president is an Issa, whereas the majority of
Somaliland's population and political elite are from the
Issak clan. The Djiboutian president had asked the Issa
in Somaliland to boycott the elections. Now, Duale said,
the Djiboutians have kicked out the Somaliland
representative in Djibouti. Can the U.S. help with
Djibouti, Duale asked?

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Comment
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11. (C) According to press reporting and Interpeace, a
successful meeting of elders, heads of political parties,
MPs, government representatives, and the "wisemen" (para 6)
took place on August 20 and resolved many political issues.
Parliament agreed to review the President's nominations for
the remaining two members of the National Electoral
Commission; the President agreed to sign 2007 budget bill
as passed by Parliament; and, the three arrested leaders of
Qaran will be released and their rights to political
participation restored while the appeal process continues..
If all three steps are carried out it will mark a big step
forward for Somaliland politically. Interpeace, a
recipient of USG funding for peace and reconciliation
activities, immediately made plans to visit Hargeisa this
week to learn more.

RANNEBERGER