REAR ADMIRAL HUNT DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017 TAGS: PREL MASS PTER PARM SO YM SUBJECT: REAR ADMIRAL HUNT DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND SECURITY WITH ADEN OFFICIALS REF: SANAA YM 101225Z Classified By: DCM NABEEL KHOURY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: On January 22, visiting Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commander Admiral Richard Hunt traveled to Aden to meet with the governor and local security officials. Governor Ahmed al-Kohlani expressed appreciation for USG support to the Yemeni Coast Guard, saying security was crucial to Aden's economic development. Southern Regional Military Commander MG Madhi Maqwala expressed support for US efforts to stabilize Somalia and hoped an international peacekeeping force under the African Union would soon be deployed. Colonel Lotf al-Baraty, Director of the Yemeni Coast Guard (YCG) - Aden District, thanked the USG for its support and briefed the Admiral on the YCG's expansion plans. End Summary. -------------- Governor: "Aden Deserves Our Cooperation -------------- ¶2. (C) Governor Kohlani told Hunt that "security cooperation is excellent" in the Aden province, especially with the Yemeni Coast Guard. He hoped to expand cooperation with the United States to economic development, saying "Aden deserves our cooperation." He noted that the people of Aden appreciate USG support because they want to prevent another incident like the 2000 USS Cole attack and the resulting economic devastation the attack caused for the Aden port. ¶3. (C) On Somalia, Hunt stressed that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) must take advantage of the current opportunity by controlling warlords and establishing an inclusive government. Kohlani agreed, saying that Aden acutely felt the impact of Somali instability because of the large numbers of refugees living throughout the province. He hoped that the TFG would soon create a national army out of the various tribes, so that the Ethiopian troops could withdraw from Somalia. -------------- -------------- Military District Commander: "Do Not Leave Somalia Alone" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Hunt provided a short brief of USG efforts on Somalia, saying he hoped that an African Union stabilization force could soon be deployed to Somalia in support of an inclusive federal government. Maqwala agreed, adding that the Ethiopian forces must withdraw immediately so they are not viewed as "occupiers." Maqwala expressed confidence that once security was established with a strong national army, the Somali people and the Arab League would rally behind the government. "Do not leave Somalia alone," he cautioned, or instability would return. ¶5. (C) Maqwala said that his primary concern with Somalia was the large number of refugees living in the Aden province, but noted that some refugees, especially TFG supporters, were returning to Somalia. He was unaware of any plans from the Ministry of Defense to increase security around Aden, as was done in the Eastern Military Region where the majority of refugees arrive to Yemen (ref A). -------------- YCG: Expansion Plans on Target -------------- ¶6. (C) Colonel Baraty expressed appreciation for USG support through the Foreign Military Financing program, including a recent two-week training course in Aden on boat operation and maintenance. While cooperation is excellent, he hoped that the United States could provide more training opportunities to lower ranking and enlisted officers, especially on maintenance. Office of Military Cooperation Chief replied that Post was exploring the possibility of providing a full-time advisor to satisfy that request. ¶7. (C) Baraty briefed Hunt on the YCG's expansion plan in the Aden District. He anticipated that the majority of new bases would be operational by the end of 2008, giving YCG control over 550 kilometers of coast. Baraty also said that a Vessel Trafficking System, being constructed with funding from the Italian government, should be completed in the Aden SANAA 00000175 002 OF 002 District by the end of 2007, boosting YCG's efforts to secure the crucial shipping lanes in the Bab al-Mandeb. ¶8. (U) This cable was cleared by Rear Admiral Hunt. KRAJESKI