ITALY DRIVING EU SOMALIA ENGAGEMENT, WILL HELP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000388

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR AF/E NOLE GAREY AND AF/RSA MIKE BITTRICK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO MOPS EUN SO IT
SUBJECT: ITALY DRIVING EU SOMALIA ENGAGEMENT, WILL HELP
AMISOM

REF: A. STATE 17083

B. ROME 375

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Anna M. Borg for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary. DCM delivered Ref A demarche to Italian MFA
Director General for Sub-Saharan Africa Armando Sanguini
February 22, urging immediate GOI support for deployment of
an African Union stabilization force for Somalia (AMISOM).
Sanguini noted Italy had already made a contribution through
the EU's African Peace Facility and that the GOI has been the
driving force behind EU involvement in Somalia. Italy also
aimed to provide support for AMISOM bilaterally, according to
Sanguini, but larger domestic problems in Italy's governing
center-left coalition (Ref B) could affect timing and
approval of the foreign missions bill, which would provide
funding. Although Italy strongly supported AMISOM as one of
the pillars to create conditions for the rebirth of Somalia,
Sanguini stressed the GOI also wanted a coherent way forward
on the political process--security forces alone were not the
answer. End summary.


2. (C) DCM and Poloff met with Sanguini and MFA Somalia
Coordinator Giancarlo Izzo February 22 to highlight the
importance of providing assistance quickly to an AU force for
Somalia. Sanguini responded that the EU had already
committed approximately 15 million euros through the African
Peace Facility, and that much of the EU's support for Somalia
was due to Italy's leadership on the issue in Brussels. FM
Massimo D'Alema was committed to pushing for EU assistance
for AMISOM, Sanguini said. Italy sees AMISOM as a key pillar
to improving the situation in Somalia.


3. (C) On the structure of AMISOM, Sanguini noted that Italy
viewed AU involvement as positive, allowing Africans to have
ownership of their regional problem. The GOI also supported
UN endorsement of the mission and voted in favor of the
recently passed UNSCR authorizing AMISOM. However, Sanguini
pointed out Italy had not co-sponsored the resolution
because, although the GOI was happy with the final result,
the language did not go far enough to link the peacekeeping
operation and the political process. Italy felt the
political process and security forces were equal pillars and
a PKO alone would not bring stability to Somalia. Potential
troop-contributing countries did not know what they would
find in Somalia and this was increasing the difficulty in
securing troops. It was important that Ethiopian troops
leave Somalia, Sanguini stressed. AMISOM should not be
identified with the current Ethiopian involvement.


4. (C) Stressing that Italy has always supported Somalia's
transitional process and the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs),Sanguini noted that the TFIs must also
do their part. The GOI had been supportive of President
Yusuf's announcement that he wanted to support democracy--he
and PM Gedi needed to hold up their end. Italy did not want
to provide assistance and have nothing to show for it in the
end; a coherent way forward on the political process was key.
While civil society was slowly starting to develop, Sanguini
worried that some clans were refusing to take part in the
reconciliation process. Italy believed there should be a
focus on schools, providing food and other basic needs.


5. (C) Sanguini said he would request a meeting of the
Contact Group to take place in Cairo within the next few
weeks.
SPOGLI