USUN GUIDANCE: SOMALIA MONITORING GROUP

UNCLAS STATE 075446 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN PHUM PREL SO XA XW UNSC SUBJECT: USUN GUIDANCE: SOMALIA MONITORING GROUP REF: USUN 618 ¶1. Somalia UN Mission Charge Idd Mohamed has raised his opposition to the appointment of Matt Bryden as chair of the Monitoring Group for the UNSC Somalia Sanctions Committee multiple times, including by Press Release. U.S. Special Envoy Yates previously spoke with the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Prime Minister Hussein to discuss their concerns. PM Hussein indicated that Mohamed was not/not acting under orders of the TFG and any communications protesting against Bryden,s appointment, such as the Somali UN Mission's letter to the UNSC Presidency or subsequent Press Release, do not represent the TFG position. ¶2. Department does not consider credible Mohamed's claims that the TFG would: cease all cooperation and information-sharing with the Monitoring Group (MG); refuse to issue visas to Bryden and other MG members; and urge Somalia's neighbors to curtail cooperation. The Bureau of African Affairs confirms that this issue was not/not raised during A/S Frazer,s meeting with TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed at the African Union Summit in Sharm el Sheikh as asserted by Mohamed. Given Mohamed,s misinterpretation of facts on this and previous occasions, any subsequent assertions by Mohamed should be received with caution. ¶3. Department will continue to follow-up with the TFG to ensure MG will receive their cooperation. It is expected that Mohamed will continue to raise objections to Matt Bryden's role as Coordinator of the Somalia Monitoring Group. However, as Mohamed does not appear to be acting on instructions from Mogadishu, USUN's best response would be to receive Mohamed demarches without comment. USUN may also wish to inform other UNSC Somalia Sanctions Committee members that we have consulted with the TFG leadership and they do not object to Bryden's role as Coordinator of the Monitoring Group. ¶4. Department appreciates Mission's efforts. RICE