UNSC DIVIDED AND CONFUSED ON SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000279 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE YATES E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS UNSC SO SUBJECT: UNSC DIVIDED AND CONFUSED ON SOMALIA REF: A. LEVINSON-FITZGERALD EMAILS 03/11/08 ¶B. LEVINSON FITZGERALD EMAILS 03/14/08 Classified By: POL Minister-Counselor Jeff DeLaurentis for Reasons 1.4 B/D. ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 8. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 20 SRSG Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah and A/SYG Edmond Mulet briefed the Security Council on the recently published UN reports on Somalia, the Integrated UN Task Force Strategic Assessment and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Fact Finding Mission Report. Following the UN briefings, Ugandan PermRep Francis Butagira, who was delegated to speak on behalf of the African Union, called on the Security Council to authorize a UN peacekeeping mission to replace the African Union stabilization force. In closed consultations following the briefings, UKUN John Sawers announced that the UK will begin to facilitate discussions on a Security Council textual response to the UN reports on March 28. END SUMMARY. -------------- SRSG More Optimistic than DPKO -------------- ¶3. (SBU) SRSG Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah told the Security Council in his March 20 briefing that the reconciliation process in Somalia was beginning to make progress. He said that enhanced engagement from the international community was needed to sustain the progress and move forward (ref A). Ould-Abdallah listed several signs of political progress - the new Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, has appointed a more inclusive cabinet, begun a dialogue with opposition forces, and the government has returned to Mogadishu. Ould Abdallah endorsed the core findings of the UN Strategic Assessment on Somalia and called for the Security Council to respond by formulating a strategic approach that integrates the "political, security and programmatic resources necessary" to support Somali national reconcilitation. ¶4. (SBU) Following the SRSG's briefing, A/SYG Edmond Mulet delivered a briefing on the DPKO Fact Finding Mission (FFM) report to Somalia, which outlines five "scenarios" for addressing the security situation in Somalia (ref B). Mulet said the current situation in Somalia presented a "paradox of improving political conditions with worsening security." For that reason, Mulet said conditions were not in place for a successful UN peacekeeping mission to Somalia. Nevertheless, Mulet said DPKO recognized that a "credible stabilization force is an essential component of any international strategy." He said the UN, however, does not have the robust military capabilities to meet the requirements for a peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Mulet closed his briefing by describing the requirements for an "international coalition of the willing" capable of carrying out a UN mandated mission with peace enforcement elements in Somalia. ¶5. (C) (COMMENT: USUN contacts in DPKO and DPA have told us privately that there are substantial differences between the two UN departments on the way forward in Somalia with DPA pushing a more forward leaning UN role. The UN Integrated Task Force, which drafted the Strategic Assessment, was disappointed that DPKO did not provide more substantive input on the security aspects of their proposal for an integrated strategy on Somalia. END COMMENT.) -------------- AMISOM TCCs: Somalia Needs a UN PKO or Greater Support -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Following the UN briefings, Ugandan PermRep Francis Butagira spoke on behalf of the African Union and AMISOM TCCs. Butagira told the Security Council that the Ugandan and Burkinaban forces in Mogadishu were doing their best to stabilize the country, but that the African Union lacked the financial resources and logistical capacities to bring about real improvements in security. Butagira challenged the Security Council to "get serious on Somalia." He said the Security Council essentially had two options: 1) improve UN support for AMISOM; or 2) actualize a UN peacekeeping mission to replace AMISOM. Butagira closed his comments by commenting that AMISOM could not remain in place indefinitely without enhanced international support -------------- USUN NEW Y 00000279 002 OF 002 Security Council: No Clear Consensus on the Way Forward -------------- ¶7. (SBU) During closed consultations following the briefings in the Security Council chamber, most delegations delivered preliminary reactions to the UN reports, one of which was released only two days prior to the meeting. UKUN John Sawers announced that the UK will begin to facilitate discussions on a Security Council textual response to the reports on March 28. Sawers made clear that the UK believed that the focus of any text should be on support for the Somali reconciliation process, not peacekeeping options. USUN POL/COUNS delivered the U.S. points, emphasizing the need for a coordinated UN approach to the crisis in Somalia. South African PermRep Kumalo criticized DPKO for "pronouncing on issues that pertain to the Security Council," i.e. declaring that a peacekeeping mission was inadvisable. South Africa, Libya, France and Italy endorsed the idea of moving the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) back to Mogadishu. UK PermRep Sawers offered qualified support for this proposal, saying the UK was prepared to support it once the UN has completed the proper security preparations. Panamanian PermRep Arias called for UNSC action to implement a UN mandated maritime presence off the coast of Somalia. -------------- Action Request and Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) USUN requests Department guidance on what type of response we favor to the UN reports on Somalia. Without a specific U.S. position on the security component of the UN Strategic Assessment, we can expect continued incoherence from the Security Council on the Somalia issue. DPKO and DPA remain divided on whether there is an effective role for the UN to play in Somalia and for that reason have failed to produce any actionable recommendations. The African delegations, led by South Africa, are committed to an expanded UN role in Somalia and will keep this issue on the Security Council agenda. While the UK has the lead on the Somalia portfolio, their failure to consult adequately on the AMISOM renewal has earned them the distrust of the African delegations, which will complicate the debate as we move forward. KHALILZAD