Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 000902 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SO SUBJECT: Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia Classified by PolOff Mitch Benedict for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador and Special Envoy met in Nairobi the week of March 31-April 4 with senior members of the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS),including Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Executive Committee Chairman, and Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, Central Committee Chairman. The ARS delegation was in Nairobi at the invitation of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah. While the ARS continues to be animated primarily by the Ethiopian presence in Somalia, we detected some constructive views. ¶2. (C) The ARS claims to desire good relations with the U.S., and all its neighbors; they support a peaceful dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and a peaceful political resolution for Somalia. At one stage, they informally proposed that a national unity government be formed now for a three year transition but this was not followed up in subsequent meetings. The Ambassador and Special Envoy welcomed the participation of the ARS in the search for a peaceful political solution for Somalia, and urged the ARS to support a U.N. peacekeeping operation and to use their claimed influence inside Somalia to reduce violence and further isolate the Shabaab, from whom the ARS team claimed total estrangement. End Summary. ¶3. (C) The ARS delegation included: -- Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (Hawiye/Abgal): former Executive Committee Chairman of the Council of Islamic Courts and current Executive Committee Chairman of the ARS; -- Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan (Rahanweyn): former Speaker of Parliament and current Central Committee Chairman of the ARS; -- Jama Mohamed Ghalib (Dir/Isaq): Civil Society representative to and Deputy Executive Committee Chairman of the ARS. Intellectual, author, and former police commander and Interior Minister under Siad Barre; -- Ibrahim Hassan Addow (Hawiye/Haber Gedir/Sa?ad): former Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Council of Islamic Courts; -- Omar Iman Abubakar (Hawiye/Badiade): former Vice Chairman of Consultative Council (Shura) of the Council of Islamic Courts; -- Mohamed Abdi Yussuf (Darod/Awrtable): Former TFG MP and also a minister in the previous TNG; -- Mohamed Sheikh Hassan (Rahanweyn): Former General associated with military intel; long time assistant to Sharif Hassan; -- Mohamed Ali Ibrahim (Hawiye/Badiade): Chairman of the Constitution and Religious Committee for the ARS. Former member of the Islamic Courts, affiliated with Al-Islah; -- Abdirahman Adan Ibrahim ?Ibbi? (Dir/Bimal): Former TFG MP and Minister, and also a minister in the TNG. ¶4. (C) Predictably, Sharif Hassan and Sheikh Sharif focused on Ethiopian actions in Somalia and President Yusuf?s complicity in their ?crimes? against the Somali people. Without ever going into any detail, our ARS interlocutors told us repeatedly that a solution to the Ethiopian problem will lead easily to the resolution of all other problems. ¶5. (C) The ARS portrayed itself as a peaceful organization committed to non-violent means to achieve a lasting political resolution for Somalia. Sheikh Sharif emphasized there is no ARS relationship with al-Shabaab and that this can be easily substantiated by the public media reports describing the estrangement. In fact at one point they implied that merely talking to us could be dangerous to their health. They claimed much work needs to be done to convince the people of Somalia that there will be a peaceful democratic transition. They asked rhetorically if we really believed the transition would conclude with elections in 2009. ¶6. (C) The TFG, they said, has done nothing in three and a half years on the transition, and therefore they saw no reason to believe that any significant progress would be made in the remaining one and a half years. They asked us to use our influence to avoid any further delay and NAIROBI 00000902 002 OF 003 support an inclusive transition process. Ibrahim Addow, in what amounted to almost an aside, acknowledged that more time would be necessary when he said a transitional unity government could begin now for a three year transition process. ¶7. (C) They claimed that the African Union Peace Support Mission (AMISOM) is not neutral and is viewed by the people of Mogadishu as part of the same continuum as the Ethiopian forces. A neutral UN force would be required, they said, but they questioned whether the resources required would be better spent on reconstruction and assistance for the Somali people. Sheikh Sharif said if agreement could be found for an Ethiopian withdrawal then ?other forces? would not be necessary because the ensuing political dialogue would lead quickly to peace. However, he concluded, ?if the U.S. considers a UN force important, then we can go along.? Addow twice mentioned an Ethiopian withdrawal from cities as a minimally acceptable first step that would send a strong message and permit the Somali people themselves to create peace. ¶8. (C) The Ambassador laid out U.S. policy. He urged the ARS to avoid getting bogged down on personality issues, but rather to focus on the transition, which must include all views. The Ambassador acknowledged their views on Ethiopia, and on President Yusuf, but countered that there must be provisions for security. He suggested the best way to hasten an Ethiopian withdrawal would be to support UN peacekeepers; he urged the ARS to issue a statement in support of a UN peacekeeping operation. The Ambassador pointed out that such a step would be a win- win for all involved: it would give the U.S. something positive to respond to and support; it would make the ARS appear to be a responsible organization; and, it would help SRSG Ould-Abdallah and the international community. With regard to Yusuf, the Ambassador affirmed that the U.S. will use its influence to support reconciliation and constructive political dialogue that will further the transition and help bring peace and stability to Somalia. ¶9. (C) A sense of urgency permeated the remarks of ARS members. They seemed eager to go the next step, and to establish credibility. ?Let me help you minimize issues,? said Sheikh Sharif, and ?let?s get the TFG, U.S., and whoever else is essential to the table to begin dialogue.? He said if the U.S. wanted the ARS to ?share power? with the TFG then the ARS will fully empower the U.S. to get all sides to the table. According to Sheikh Sharif, if the U.S. would change its policy toward the TFG leadership it would be ?enormously helpful to us and the Somali people.? Ibrahim Addow urged the U.S. to adopt what he called an ?even? policy between Ethiopia and Somalia. He said the Somali people are favorable to the U.S., and are willing to work with and accept America, but they need a change in U.S. policy. Ambassador and Special Envoy made clear that the ARS must demonstrate credibility through positive actions, starting with a statement supporting UN peacekeeping. ¶10. (C) ARS members, particularly former senior Islamic Court officials Sheikh Sharif and Ibrahim Addow, acknowledged there has been a lot of mistrust in their relationship with the U.S. They repeatedly said they wanted to work together, and they wanted to collaborate constructively to achieve political solutions. Sharif Hassan said their objective is a broad based and stable government that can effectively run the country, and an immediate Ethiopian withdrawal. ?These are our intentions and objectives,? he said, and they understand that only the U.S. can bring this about. ¶11. (C) In a separate meeting with Sharif Hassan, representing the former Parliamentarians, the former Speaker assured us ?the past is past.? Referring to the former Islamic Court members of the ARS, he said while their common issue is Ethiopia, ?other issues? can be accommodated. Sharif Hassan emphasized to us that the ARS very much wants good relations the U.S. and is eager for our support, assistance, cooperation. He assured us he would push for a statement, as we suggested, in support of a UN peacekeeping operation. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) A lot has changed since our last face-to-face NAIROBI 00000902 003 OF 003 conversations with the two leaders of the ARS delegation over a year ago. We found both the tone and substance of Sheikh Sharif and Sharif Hassan to be much more reconciliatory and expressive of a willingness to maintain a serious dialogue with the U.S. and the international community. We will continue to support strongly SRSG Ould-Abdallah?s efforts to promote an all inclusive dialogue and reconciliation, and we will reinforce those efforts with President Yusuf and Prime Minister Hussein. The ARS will consult and discuss with their supporters. We agreed on the need to maintain momentum toward dialogue and peace, and we offered to remain in contact. RANNEBERGER