PRESIDENT YUSUF IN ADDIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000339

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: ASEC ET PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YUSUF IN ADDIS

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Yamamoto and DCM Malac met with
President Yusuf on February 9 during his stopover in Addis en
route back to Somalia. Although frail, Yusuf was engaged and
forcefully stated his intention to stay in power through the
end of his mandate in late 2009. He reiterated his
commitment to reconciliation with all, including former-CIC
elements, who are loyal to Somalia and not in league with
terrorists. At the same time, Yusuf and his aides riffed on
whether it was realistic to include these same moderates
since they were only interested in Islamic state, not the
democratic future that Yusuf wished to pursue for Somalia.
As for Somaliland, Yusuf was quite clear that he viewed it as
part of Somalia and he would not permit it to secede. End
summary.


2. (C) During a stopover in Addis en route from London to
Somalia, President Yusuf invited Ambassador Yamamoto and DCM
for a brief, but cordial, meeting on February 9. Fresh from
medical treatment in Europe, Yusuf still appeared frail, but
in good spirits. His first comment was that he had every
intention of seeing through his mandate as President and
putting Somalia on the path to democratic elections in 2009.
Yusuf stressed his commitment to reconciliation and reaching
out to all clans in the country who were loyal to Somalia and
not working with terrorists. U.S. support was critical, said
Yusuf, to keeping the pressure on those who did not want
peace for anyone. Most importantly, the TFG needed U.S. and
international financial and security support in order to
deliver services to the people and to keep Somalia on the
path of transition to democracy.


3. (C) Yusuf and the Ambassador briefly discussed Assistant
Secretary Frazer's recent visit to Somaliland. Ambassador

SIPDIS
noted that the trip was not meant to convey recognition for
Somaliland, but rather an opportunity to see first-hand the
situation in Somaliland and to resume a critical security
dialogue with officials in Hargeisa. Yusuf stated
unequivocally that Somaliland was part of Somalia and would
not be allowed to secede. He said the on-going fighting
between Somaliland and Puntland was also unacceptable, but
pledged that the TFG was interested in negotiating with
Somaliland, not fighting.


4. (C) Comment: While Yusuf said the right things about being
willing to talk to moderates in the former-CIC, he and his
aides spent considerable time in the brief meeting explaining
why it really wasn't possible to include these "moderates" in
a Somali government. The reason - everyone affiliated with
the CIC, even those who were not extremists, wanted to see
the establishment of a Taliban-like Islamic state in Somalia.
Yusuf and the TFG wanted to see democracy take root. There
was no way, according to Yusuf, to reconcile these two
competing visions. Yusuf planned to meet with PM Meles and
FM Seyoum later the same day. Meles will very likely push
Yusuf to reach out to moderates in the CIC, especially in
light of Ethiopia's private contacts with CIC elements in
Asmara (Addis 286). Given Yusuf's views, Meles will have to
push hard.
YAMAMOTO