Somalia - TFG Prime Minster Gedi Resigns

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 004240

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT: Somalia - TFG Prime Minster Gedi Resigns

REF: Nairobi 4163

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


1. (SBU) Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Prime
Minster Ali Mohamed Gedi offered his resignation to TFG
President Abdullahi Yusuf on October 29 in Baidoa. Gedi's
resignation follows several weeks of acrimonious political
debate in parliament on whether a vote of confidence should
be called on Gedi's government. Yusuf reportedly welcomed
the resignation and announced the decision to appoint an
interim prime minister very soon. The assumption in Baidoa
is that Gedi's deputy, Salim Ibrow, will be the choice for
interim prime minister until Gedi's successor is selected.


2. (SBU) Upon Gedi's arrival in Baidoa from Addis this
morning, he met with Yusuf and Speaker of Parliament Adan
Madobe. According to sources close to Yusuf, Gedi handed
the president the resignation letter in the meeting. Gedi
then proceeded to a hotel where he held a closed door
meeting with his supporters to brief them about his
decision to resign. Gedi reportedly then went to parliament
around 1:00 p.m. local time where he gave a 15-minute
speech highlighting the successes of the TFG in defeating
terrorists elements and its subsequent relocation to
Mogadishu. Gedi stated he made the decision to resign in
the best interest of the country and the people of Somalia.
He added that he would continue to serve his country both
as a politician and professional. In Yusuf's remarks to
parliament he welcomed the resignation and urged the
parliament to now refocus its energies on accomplishing the
remaining tasks in the transitional period.


3. (C) The Ambassador and Special Envoy met on October 29
with Mohamed Abdirizak, Yusuf's Deputy Chief of Staff.
Abdirizak reiterated the TFG's desire to select a prime
minister who can appeal broadly to the Hawiye community.
The search for possible candidates revolves primarily but
not solely on the Hawiye/Abgal. He offered several names
that have been discussed thus far including:

Abdullahi Warsame Nur - former police colonel and Minister
of Finance in the Barre government who lives in Ohio and
recently underwent bypass surgery

Moahmed Aseyr Lugey - businessman and former military
lawyer living in Dubai

Hassan Sheikh Ali - Phd student living in Malaysia with no
government experience and a favorite choice of Ali Mahdi

Abdullahi Afrah - current TFG Minister of Trade and
Commerce who claims to have the backing of the Abgal elders


4. (C) Abdirizak said that Yusuf has between 21 and 30 days
in which he will need to select the prime minister's
successor. There have not been wide consultations with
various clan elders but rather Yusuf has been reaching out
to contacts within the key communities. Abdirizak promised
to share timely information with the United States on how
the selection process is proceeding. He also stated that
the Yusuf plans to introduce the recommendations of the
National Reconciliation Congress to parliament for
immediate ratification.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: It is not clear whether Gedi also
resigned from his seat in Parliament, which he had
previously indicted he would also do, or whether his
resignation was only from the post of Prime Minister. We
expect that he will travel from Baidoa to Nairobi today and
that his further intentions will become known over the
following days. END COMMENT

RANNEBERGER