USAU: AMISOM MANDATE EXTENDED BY TWO MONTHS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003426

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/RSA, IO/PSC AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV USUN KPKO SO AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AMISOM MANDATE EXTENDED BY TWO MONTHS

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3399

B. ADDIS ABABA 3337

C. ADDIS ABABA 3289

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN A. SIMON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) This message contains an Action Request in paragraph 9.


2. (U) Summary: On December 22, the African Union's Peace and
Security Council (PSC) agreed to extend AMISOM's current
mandate for two months, and also asked the AU Commission to
work closely with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that
the planned withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia is
closely coordinated with AMISOM to avoid a security vacuum.
Council members noted the readiness of Uganda, Burundi, and
Nigeria to deploy one battalion each to AMISOM subject to
available financial resources and logistical support. The
PSC further endorsed IGAD's December 21 decision to impose
sanctions on the unconstitutionally designated Somali prime
minister and cabinet. The PSC also left no doubt that the
UNSC should bear the long-term responsibility of keeping
peace in Somalia by calling on it to immediately authorize
the deployment of an international stabilization force and,
subsequently, a peacekeeping operation to take over from
AMISOM. End Summary.


3. (U) A ministerial-level meeting of the AU's PSC was held
in Addis Ababa on December 22 to decide the fate of AMISOM.
At issue was whether to extend AMISOM's mandate, particularly
in light of Ethiopia's announced plans to withdraw its
defense forces from Somalia by the end of the year. For AU
Commission Chairman Jean Ping, the only course to take
vis-a-vis Somalia is to "continue to provide whatever
support" Africa can to promote peace, security and stability
in Somalia. His report to the Council further stated, "The
AU is the only organization the Somalis can readily turn to
at this particular moment in their history."


4. (U) The PSC's debate on Somalia came a day after IGAD held
an extraordinary session in Addis where it adopted targeted
sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze against
all those hindering the ongoing efforts toward
reconciliation, peace, and stability in Somalia. PSC
Ministers endorsed IGAD's decision to impose sanctions on
what the PSC regards as the "unconstitutionally designated
Prime Minister (Mohamoud Mohamed Gouled) and his immediate
associates." The Council also affirmed its support for Prime
Minister Nur Hassan Hussein Adde and his new cabinet, and it
condemned Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf's attempt to
appoint a new prime minister. The Council did not
specifically sanction President Yusuf as it did not want to
sanction a sitting President at this time.


5. (U) PSC Ministers also took several other decisions
regarding AMISOM and the future of Somalia. They agreed to
extend AMISOM's mandate by two months, from January 16 until
March 16. However, given Ethiopia's plans to withdraw their
troops by the end of the year, which is in accordance with
the Djibouti Agreement, the PSC also asked the AU Commission
to work closely with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure
that the Ethiopian withdrawal "is closely coordinated with
AMISOM to avoid a security vacuum and facilitate the ongoing
efforts aimed at strengthening AMISOM." (Note: The AU's
final communique reflecting the Council's positions will not
be released until December 24. USAU reviewed a draft
communique with senior AU interlocutors familiar with the
agreed upon final language. End Note.)


6. (C) According to our interlocutors, Lamamra and Ping tried
repeatedly to convince the Ethiopian representative, Deputy
Foreign Minister Tekada, to agree to language indicating a
willingness to delay the withdrawal until AMISOM is
reinforced. Despite several formulations of the concept,
Tekada consistently refused.


7. (U) At a press conference following the PSC Ministerial,
Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra stated that
Ethiopia "could stay" in Somalia until January 5, "but no
more." Pressed by reporters for further clarification about
what would happen should the additional battalions not arrive
by January 5, Lamamra said, "we have to ensure that we are
ready." AMISOM's mandate otherwise remains unchanged.


8. (U) The Council also noted that AMISOM has yet to reach
its authorized strength of nine battalions. Even with

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pledges by Uganda, Burundi, and more recently, Nigeria to
each contribute one additional battalion, the PSC called on
other AU member states to contribute troops and other
personnel that would bring AMISOM up to its authorized
strength. The Council further called on member states and
the international community to provide the logistical and
financial support for AMISOM's full deployment and sustenance
of its operations. Discussions by AU partners, including the
U.S., the EU, and others about financing a more robust AMISOM
are contained in reftels.


9. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: USAU requests AF/RSA work with
Embassies Bujumbura, Kampala, and Abuja to confirm dates for
delivery of equipment and airlift (if airlift is necessary)
for the three new battalions.


10. (U) The PSC also left no doubt that it believes the UNSC
has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security. Council members called on
the UNSC to "immediately and without any further delay take
the steps expected of it, in particular by authorizing the
deployment of an international stabilization force and,
subsequently, that of a peacekeeping operation to take over
from AMISOM and support the long-term stabilization and
reconstruction of Somalia." Pending the deployment of a
peacekeeping operation, the PSC requested the UNSC to
authorize a support package for AMISOM, "bearing in mind the
provisions of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, on the basis of
the proposals contained in the letter addressed by the UN
Secretary-General to the Security Council on 19 December
2008." This language is intended to allow AMISOM to access
UN assessed funds until a full peacekeeping operation takes
effect.


11. (U) On the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia, the
PSC noted its appreciation for the anti-piracy efforts being
exerted, but it also noted its "disappointment" that the
international mobilization in the fight against piracy "is
not matched by an equal commitment to act with the urgency
required in order to bring to an end the violence and
suffering being witnessed by Somalia." It is "through the
early deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation
in support of the ongoing political process" that the
underlying problems within Somalia can be addressed,
according to the Council.


12. (C) Comment: The outcome of the AU PSC deliberations on
Somalia and AMISOM is very much in line with what Peace and
Security Commissioner Lamamra had discussed with us earlier.
However, for the PSC approach to succeed, several elements
need to fall in place, including a government of national
unity in Somalia, and a UN stabilization force following by a
peacekeeping operation. Additionally, in the coming days,
the AU will want to engage with the Ethiopians to clearly
define the extent and nature of the agreed coordination
between Ethiopia and AMISOM.
YAMAMOTO