ARS HARDLINERS SELECT SHEIKH AWEYS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000368

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PREL ER SO
SUBJECT: ARS HARDLINERS SELECT SHEIKH AWEYS

REF: ASMARA 309

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation
for Somalia (ARS) who oppose the June 9 Djibouti
reconciliation accords met in Asmara July 3 - 22. Claiming
to represent the ARS Central Committee, the militant ARS
faction selected Sheikh Aweys as its leader, purported to
have expelled dozens of moderate ARS members (including
Sheikh Sharif, the legitimate ARS chairman),and denounced
the Djibouti agreement. The opening session of the ARS
hardliners' gathering was held in the Eritrean Ministry of
Education building, indicating the Isaias regime's strong
support for the Aweys faction. End Summary.

"WE'RE A MAJORITY," HARDLINERS ALLEGE
--------------


2. (C) ARS hardliners who reject the reconciliation accords
signed by the ARS and Somalia's Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) in Djibouti June 9 rallied in Asmara July 3
- 22. Billing their meeting as the "Second Regular Session
of the Central Committee," the hardliners allege to have
gathered a quorum and the backing of a majority of the
Central Committee members, thereby legitimizing the outcome
of the proceedings. Post has no way to determine the
veracity of these claims, which may be greatly exaggerated to
enhance the rejectionists' credibility. While some media
outlets report that 140 of 193 members of the Central
Committee were present, Ismail Adow, ARS public affairs
assistant, is quoted in the Islam Online blogsite as
claiming, "Fifty members were present today, while another 30
voted through e-mails." A reliable embassy contact who
personally attended the June 22 closing session reported that
the hall was packed, but he was unable to say how many of the
attendees were Central Committee members.


3. (SBU) THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE
--------------

The Aweys faction issued a public statement July 22 ("The
Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia Communique") at the
conclusion of its three-week confab. Excerpts follow.

-- it was noted with utmost satisfaction the continued
success of the war of re-liberation...against the forces of
the occupying Ethiopian enemy and its quislings.

-- Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Aden betrayed their
trust...conspired with the enemies of the Somali people
against the national cause of re-liberating the motherland.

-- the culmination of the conspiracy was the farcical
agreement entered into with the so-called TFG and signed in
Djibouti on June 9th.

-- (the conspiracy began) under coercion by Western powers
who not only support, but also diplomatically, economically,
militarily, and politically sustain the Ethiopian enemy
occupation of Somalia.

-- appeal to the International Community to note the just
cause of the Somali people's struggle to re-liberte their own
country from the Ethiopian enemy occupation.

-- expresses gratitude for the State of Eritrea, government
and people, and also other friendly sources for their
unwavering support for the just cause of the Somali people.


4. (SBU) HARDLINERS SUPPOSEDLY EXPEL MODERATES
-------------- -

The Final Communique went on to list 37 individuals who were
condemned for supporting the Djibouti accords and who where
thereby purportedly expelled from the ARS. The list begins
with "1) Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed, 2) Shariif Xasan Sheekh
Aaden..." and continues through "37) Cabdiraxmaan Yussuf
Faarax." Some media accounts characterize the 37 as members
of the Central Committee, but Post cannot corroborate that

ASMARA 00000368 002 OF 002


claim. Some hardliners supposedly accused the USG of
corrupting Sheikh Sharif with a grant of $5m paid directly to
his accounts.


5. (C) AND SELECT SHEIKH AWEYS
--------------

Media and local sources state that after a five-hour debate
the hardliners elected as "ARS Chairman" Sheikh Hassan Dahir
Aweys, with Dr. Zakariyah M. H. Abdi as Vice Chairman.
Hussein M. Aidid and General Jama M. Ghalib were supposedly
elected to the 11-member Executive Committee. Observers say
the participants attempted to strike a balance among clan,
diaspora groups, the former Islamic Courts, and former
parliamentarians.

(NOTE: See bio notes on Aweys, Abdi, and Aidid reftel. We
believe Abdi is a UK citizen who did extensive fundraising in
Minneapolis in 2007. END NOTE.)


6. (C) COMMENT: Post is unable to say with any certainty how
many ARS Central Committee members supported the hardliners'
gathering in Asmara. Both the Aweys faction and moderate
supporters of Sheikh Sharif will undoubtedly attempt to
convince the world that they are the "legitimate ARS."
Whatever the outcome, the split in the ARS, now public, will
make the Djibouti accords more difficult to implement. The
fingerprints of the Isaias regime are all over the
hardliners' communique. Strongly militant, nationalistic,
and anti-Ethiopian, it contains no Islamist rhetoric or
references whatsoever, as one would expect it to given the
preponderance of Islamic Courts influence in the Aweys
faction. Rather, it calls for Somalis to re-liberate their
motherland, drive out the Ethiopian occupiers, and condemn
the TFG quislings and ARS betrayers who were coerced by
Western powers. All standard fare in the Eritrean Ministry
of Information propaganda mill. End Comment.
MCMULLEN