SOMALIA - PM Installs New Banadir Government

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002679 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PM Installs New Banadir Government REF: A) Nairobi 2520 B) Djibouti 946 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 23, a Transitional Federal Government-appointed committee elected a new Banadir administration, in accordance with an IGAD-imposed deadline and more than two months after Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein dissolved the former administration on September 12 in a bitter political battle. Mohamed Osman Ali "Dhagahtur" (Hawiye/Abgaal) was elected Mogadishu Mayor and Banadir Governor. Initial reactions are mixed. On November 24, hundreds of Mogadishu residents staged a peaceful demonstration in support of the new administration as a fresh start for Benadir. Some within the Hawiye clan, including Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) leaders are disappointed with the outcome. They contend that Dhagatur is another warlord who, as a deputy in Mohamed Dheere's past administration, was part of the previous corrupt government. The Benadir election is a signal that the Prime Minister is following his own agenda, even without President Yusuf's approval. End summary. -------------- TFG Achieves One Goal with New Administration -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On November 23, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein "Nur Adde" announced a new Banadir regional administration after a secret ballot election at his Mogadishu residence. The Region includes the capital of Mogadishu, and is regarded by many as the epicenter of Somalia's conflict. Establishing a new administration to replace that of former Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu Mohamed Omar Habeeb "Dheere" has boosted the Prime Minister's popularity in Mogadishu, and fulfills overdue requirements from August's Addis roadmap (reftel A) and the October 29 Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) agreement. -------------- Clan-Based Electoral Process -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Through complex clan negotiations, the Prime Minister, and a now-dissolved regional governing body he appointed on September 12, named 69 delegates to serve as counselors in the new administration and to elect from among themselves the region's top leaders. The 69 delegates were allocated to clans: Hawiye - 32 delegates (Abgaal 15, Morasade 9, and Habar Gedir 8); Darod - five delegates; Dir - five delegates; Digil and Mirifle - five delegates; and the minority clans collectively received three voting delegates. -------------- Three Top Officials Elected -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The three elected officials were: -- Mohamed Osman Ali "Dhagahtur" (Hawiye/Abgaal) was elected Mogadishu Mayor and Banadir Governor. Osman received 50 of 69 votes. Osman was deputy mayor under Mohamed Dheere before Dheere was ousted. In his acceptance speech Osman pledged to prioritize security and facilitate the return of Mogadishu's IDPs. -- Abdifatah Omar Sabriye "Shaweye" (Hawiye/Morasade) was elected as First Deputy Mayor/Governor. Omar served in Mohamed Dheere's administration as Deputy Mayor/Governor. He was appointed to the position as a replacement to his father following his death in a roadside bomb. He received 38 votes to clinch the position. -- Ahmed Adan Shido (Hawiye/Habar Gedir) was elected as Second Deputy Mayor/Governor. Adan is also allied with the TFG but did not previously serve in previous Banadir administrations. He is closely allied with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Abdisalam. The remaining 66 counselors will serve in different capacities in the administration, including as commissioners to Banadir's 16 districts. -------------- Initial Reactions Mixed -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The election of the Banadir government received mixed reactions. On November 24, media report that hundreds of Mogadishu residents peacefully demonstrated their support for the new administration. Influential Hawiye elders implored the newly elected to learn lessons from past administrations' failures. Abdimalik Yusuf (Habar Gedir/Ayr),Director of the Shabelle media NAIROBI 00002679 002 OF 002 network, told us that ordinary Somalis of all clan affiliations are hopeful. Transportation companies in Mogadishu welcomed the election and requested the administration to remove the numerous TFG checkpoints used to extort money from transport vehicles. Influential traditional elders have publicly supported the new administration including Imam Mohamed Imam Omar, an important spiritual leader. ¶6. (SBU) The strongest criticism came from within the PM's own Hawiye clan. Hawiye/Abgaal sub-clan members expressed dissatisfaction with the the administration's clan distribution, arguing that they are the underrepresented as the largest native community. The Hawiye/Habar Gedir argued that the mayor/governorship should have gone to them instead of the Abgaal because the Prime Minister is Abgaal, thus their sub-clan rivals are already represented at the highest level. Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) Chairman Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told us in Djibouti that "this is not the administration we wanted," and is disappointed with the election of a "warlord" and Dheere henchman who served in the previous, corrupt administration (reftel B). We made it clear that in order to influence the outcome of the election, they should have taken part in the process. ¶7. (SBU) The Hawiye Traditional Unity Council, the most influential Hawiye political body, was in full support of the electoral process and its outcomes. Despite some of its leaders' disappointment with giving representation to "outsiders," the HTUC endorsed the new administration because they see it as successful challenge to President Yusuf. Also, the HTUC requested that the new administration employ Shari'a law and the new administration quickly agreed. Despite having no formal legal jurisdiction, all matters will be referred to the Mayor/Governor who serves as arbiter on a range of issues. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) While the clan-based electoral process for the Benadir administration may not have been the free and transparent model for which advocate, residents and community elders endorsed it. Nevertheless, some are criticizing the PM for backpedaling by allowing a member of the former "corrupt administration" to assume the top regional post. Indeed, it seems doubtful that replacing Dheere with his deputy could improve Benadir's functioning. RANNEBERGER