SOMALIA: PUNTLAND, SOMALILAND TERROR ATTACKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002527 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL CASC PINSO SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA: PUNTLAND, SOMALILAND TERROR ATTACKS REF: A. NAIROBI 2513 ¶B. NAIROBI 2519 Classified By: Counselor for Somalia Affairs Bob Patterson. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Security remained tight in Somaliland October 31 following the October 29 suicide bombings (reftels). A curfew remained in place, the land borders remained closed, and security was enhanced at key buildings in the capital, Hargeisa. Somaliland authorities report some progress in the investigation, including the identification of three safe houses. Embassy has told the Somaliland Administration that the FBI is prepared to help with laboratory analysis of any evidence developed. International NGO work in Somaliland has been affected by the attacks. The NGO Interpeace's voter registration drive, in advance of the March 2009 Somaliland elections has been suspended for at least ten days. End summary. Heightened Security in Somaliland -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A representative of the Somaliland Ministry of Interior present told NGO representatives that the government's 2100 - 0500 curfew remained in effect. The Administration had increased the number of police patrols on the streets, closed the region's land borders, enhanced security at key buildings throughout the capital, and tightened airport security. (It has been reported that Ethiopian Airways has suspended flights to Hargeisa, but that Daallo Airlines continues to operate.) Contacts on Hargeisa's streets report a gradual return to normality, although more police patrols are in evidence and roads to some neighborhoods are closed. Assistance with Investigation -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ministry is also reporting that police have identified three safe houses used by the terrorists, and identified the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved. The Somaliland Administration has requested assistance with its investigation from the Embassy, and the FBI has opened a foreign assistance case in order to help with laboratory analysis of any evidence that might be passed to it. Embassy Djibouti has agreed to be the conduit for any materials needing analysis. ¶4. (C) Embassy understands that the British have evacuated to the French hospital in Djibouti two of the reported five persons from the Hargeisa presidential palace bombing in need of urgent medical attention. It has been reported that one of the remaining reported three casualties had died before he could be evacuated. Embassy understands that the Hargeisa Central Hospital has urgently requested medical supplies. We were unable to contact by telephone anyone aware of the request in Hargeisa October 31. UNDP and UNICEF Nairobi had not received a request as of October 31. We were unable to reach anyone in ICRC Somalia October 31. ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador October 30 sent condolence letters to the presidents of Somaliland and Puntland. NGO Work Interrupted -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The NGO Interpeace has temporarily suspended the voter registration drive currently underway in advance of Somaliland's March 2009 elections. Interpeace hopes to resume registration in about ten days. ¶7. (SBU) The UN has pulled all non-essential expatriate staff from Somaliland and Puntland. (There had been about 107 international staff in the two areas before the bombing.) In Somaliland, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Planning met with remaining international NGO representatives in Hargeisa October 30. They offered condolences, thanked the NGO representatives present for remaining in Somaliland, and promised to spare no efforts in an effort to find the perpetrators. Unconfirmed Media Reports on Investigations -------------- NAIROBI 00002527 002 OF 002 ¶8. (SBU) It appears that on one has to date claimed responsibility for the attacks. The media October 31 report that Puntland authorities have detained a Sheikh Mohammed Ismail in connection with the bombings. Media also report that the video of a "ninth" suicide bomber, Abdul Aziz Saad has appeared on the al-Shabaab website, although al-Shabaab has not claimed responsibility for the bombings. Other media quote Puntland presidential advisor Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade as suggesting that the bombers in Puntland had been identified, and alleging they had been trained by al-Qaeda. None of the media reports could be independently verified. RANNEBERGER