BIO INFORMATION OF SIX SOMALI HARDLINERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000375 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018 TAGS: PINR PREL SO ER SUBJECT: BIO INFORMATION OF SIX SOMALI HARDLINERS Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) The Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) hardline faction in Asmara, now led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, sent a six-person delegation to Yemen from July 3 to July 18 to purportedly foster dialogue and reconciliation between the Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Sharif faction and the Aweys faction. Although news outlets initially reported the Yemen talks to be a success, the end result was a definitive split between followers of Sheikh Sharif and those of Sheikh Aweys. ¶2. (C) Below are the names and partial biographical data of the six-person delegation to Yemen. The names were provided in Arabic by the Yemeni Embassy in Asmara and transliterated by the Yemeni CDA. (Note: The Yemeni CDA stated that the applicants did not fill out proper visa applications; instead, the Yemeni Embassy was given a list of names from Sana'a and instructed to issue the six visas. End Note). The passport information, where applicable, is from a set of November 2007 Schengen Visa applications filed at the Royal Netherlands Embassy. All other information is compiled from internet and local sources. Post will attempt to collect more bio data on these individuals. THE SIX -------------- ¶3. (C) - Umar Iman Abu Bakr Claims his nationality as "Djiboutienne." Djibouti PPT Number: 108120061B, Date of Issue: December 14, 2006. Valid Until: December 13, 2009. Date of Birth: January 1, 1964. Place of Birth: Mogadishu. Former Deputy Chairman of Islamic Courts Consultative Committee. One of 70 signators to the April 14, 2007 "Statement from Somali Scientists Around the Ethiopian Crusade Invasion." - Abdullah Ali Hashi One of 70 signators to the April 14, 2007 "Statement from Somali Scientists Around the Ethiopian Crusade Invasion." Allegedly an extreme Islamic hardliner. During the July ARS Central Committee meeting in Asmara, Hashi reportedly proposed a new set of 180 by-laws that would incorporate shariah law into ARS governance. - Abdu Fatah Mohammed Ali Somali PPT Number: 1372667. Date of Issue: March 15, 2007. Valid Until: March 14, 2009. Date of birth: October 12, ¶1974. Place of birth: Adi Quala (then Ethiopia, now Eritrea). Currently the ARS Finance and Resources Chairman. Additionally holds an Eritrean passport (0318147). - Hassan Ousman Ahmed (Mahdi) ARS Justice and Religious Affairs Co-Deputy Chairman. - Osmar-il Hajj Adu - Hussein Mohamed Warsame MCMULLEN