SOMALIA: TFG AMBASSADOR TO CHINA HIGHLIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000854 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NOLE GAREY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV ET KE SUBJECT: SOMALIA: TFG AMBASSADOR TO CHINA HIGHLIGHTS YUSUF/NUR ADDE SPLIT Classified By: CDA Deborah Malac. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Mogadishu: Situation Normal... -------------- ¶1. (C) Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Ambassador to China Mohammed Awil met with Deputy Pol-Econ Chief on March 15. Awil was in transit to Beijing, having come earlier that week from Mogadishu. Awil described the situation in Mogadishu was "normal," with the TFG enduring continued attacks by anti-TFG jihadists. He said that Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) had evacuated several injured members of TFG security forces to Ethiopia and that he had visited them in hospital in Addis Ababa. The TFG personnel had been injured in a gun battle in Mogadishu during the week of March 10, precipitated by a jihadist attack on a TFG convoy. Yusuf/Nur Adde Split -------------- ¶2. (C) Awil, an ardent supporter of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, had harsh words for new Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein Adde. He said that Nur Adde misunderstood the corrosive nature of the jihadist threat and claimed that Nur Adde was playing a dangerous game by opening the door for dialogue with all elements in Somalia. Intimating that Nur has had contact with jihadists, Awil said bluntly that Nur Adde represents an obstacle for forward progress for peace in Somalia. COMMENT: TFG Charge d'Affaires in Addis Ababa Jabril Osman, whom Awil says he likes and respects, in a separate conversation with Deputy Pol-Econ Chief on March 28 was effusive in his praise of Nur Adde, whose attempts at reconciliation he described as inclusive and instructive. Like Awil, Jabril is vocally hostile to jihadist elements. Jabril said he does not believe that Nur Adde has had contacts with jihadists. END COMMENT. TFG Appeals for More Robust Support -------------- ¶3. (C) Asked how long he thought the ENDF would maintain its presence in Somalia, Awil demurred, saying only that the Ethiopian government is committed to seeing the TFG succeed. Praising United States diplomatic support for the TFG to date, Awil urged the international community to provide more robust support for equipping and training TFG security elements. Awil said he did not expect the PRC to meaningfully contribute to the TFG, but said that the TFG would be happy to see the Chinese contribute to equipping African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) or TFG forces. Foreign Meddling -------------- ¶4. (C) Awil said that foreign interference is deterring progress in Somalia, adding that jihadists are receiving support in the form of weapons and cash coming through Eritrea. He said that the TFG also learned of the presence in southern Somalia of an Egyptian general, noting "we know he is here, but we don't yet know why." Awil also repeated claims he has made in the past that the international community, and particularly the United Nations apparatus and European diplomats in Nairobi, have a vested interest in the status quo and do not want to see Somalia succeed. MALAC