SOMALIA: POLITICAL SOLUTIONS REQUIRED FOR SHIPPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 001648

SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA SECTION
PARIS FOR ROBERT KANEDA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2018
TAGS: PREL PINS EWWT PHSA UNSC KPKO SO XW UK
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: POLITICAL SOLUTIONS REQUIRED FOR SHIPPING
INDUSTRY PIRACY CONCERNS

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly, reasons 1.4
(b/d).


1. (C) Summary. Discussing French efforts to establish
secure maritime supply chains for humanitarian aid for
Somalia at a June 12 think-tank event in London, French MFA
and Defense Ministry representatives were met with strong
demands from shipping industry leaders for the international
community to improve the security situation more generally in
the waters around Somalia. While French naval support did
result in safe food aid delivery, it did nothing to protect
commercial vessels from ransom piracy. Although no solutions
were offered, it was agreed that a solution would have to
come "on land, not at sea," in the form of a stronger central
government in Somalia. The French, however, remain hesitant
on deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Somalia because
they believe not enough progress has been made in the
political process and force generation would be difficult.
End summary.


2. (C) At a June 12 Chatham House event, French MFA Horn of
Africa Political Officer Thierry Caboche and French Ministry
of Defense representative Captain De Bremond d'Ars outlined
France's experiences in providing anti-piracy protection to
vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia. Caboche began
by explaining that continued piracy in Somalia and
international waters around Somalia had decreased normal
commerce, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian
situation. In November 2007, France started providing French
navy ships to escort World Food Program (WFP)-contracted
vessels delivering food aid to Somalia. Despite the numerous
legal obstacles, France considered the mission a huge
success, noting that WFP food stocks in Somalia increased
from an eight-day to a three-month supply. The escort
missions continued in 2008 first with Danish and then Dutch
support. The Dutch will continue escorting WFP vessels
through the end of June, when the support will stop because
no country has offered to continue the mission.

TFG: A Real Interlocutor
--------------

3. (C) Caboche said France had found a "real interlocutor" in
the Somali Transition Federal Government (TFG). The TFG
demonstrated it wanted to work with the international
community to combat piracy by working through the legal
obstacles and garnering support in the UN. Caboche said that
while many of the regional authorities in Somalia, like
Puntland, were important local institutions, the TFG should
remain the main interlocutor for the international community.
Caboche also noted the strong support the U.S. gave in the
UN to countering piracy.

On Ransom and General Security
--------------

4. (SBU) International Maritime Organization (IMO)
representatives argued that the international community and
shipping industries need to make stronger regulations against
paying ransom to pirates, which fuels the piracy industry in
the waters around Somalia. Several shipping industry
representatives argued that the current assistance to WFP
vessels was good for the humanitarian situation but did
nothing to improve the general security in the waters. They
said shipping insurance continues to become more expensive
for vessels transiting these critical trade routes, and
short-term solutions on water routes does not alleviate the
general political insecurity in Somalia that creates an
enabling environment for pirates. Shipping industry leaders
conceded that paying ransom perpetuates the problem. They,
however, said that since the pirates had not killed crews or
plundered cargo, it would be difficult to justify not paying
when they know they can secure the safe release of the crew
(and cargo).

Comment
--------------

5. (C) The French were clearly taken aback at the shipping
industry representatives' demands for the international
community to improve security in the key maritime trade
routes around Somalia. While no solutions were offered, both
sides agreed that piracy must be "dealt with on land, not at
sea" in the form of a more stable political environment in

LONDON 00001648 002 OF 002


Somalia. In a side-bar conversation with poloff, the French
rebuffed arguments that deployment of a UN peacekeeping force
would help stabilize the political and security situation in
Somalia in a way that allows for more sustainable solutions
to piracy. They said that "not enough political process had
been made" on the ground in Somalia and that there "are
serious operational concerns" with force generation. End
comment.

Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
TUTTLE