ADDIS ABABA ON SOMALIA SITUATION IN LIGHT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001914 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SO EAID KPKO SUBJECT: ADDIS ABABA ON SOMALIA SITUATION IN LIGHT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOMALIA TFG AND PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS REF: STATE 78953 Classified By: Classified by Charge d,Affaires, Michael Gonzales for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On August 5, Charge d'Affaires and Deputy Political-Economic Counselor met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver Reftel points. The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) is pleased with USG support to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG),including in-kind support and pledged training, as well as support at the United Nations Security Council. The GoE plans to continue its ongoing liaison relationship with TFG security personnel along the Somali border, and will continue to train a small cohort of senior TFG security force personnel to improve their capacity, but will not train the large numbers of personnel it did in 2008. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On August 5, Charge d'Affairs Michael Gonzales and Deputy Political-Economic Counselor Kate Pongonis met separately with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director for the Americas, Tebeje Berhe, and State Minister Dr. Tekeda Alemu to deliver Reftel points. In a cordial hour-long meeting, Tebeje noted there had been some improvement in Somalia in recent weeks and that it was not as bleak as a couple of weeks ago. The TFG's agreement to work together with Alhu Sunna wal Jama'a has provided a good morale boost to TFG forces. Tebeje said USG assistance is positive and helpful and sends a strong message that the U.S. will back the TFG which is an additional big boost to morale. This puts al-Shabaab and other elements on the defensive. He added that Secretary Clinton's meeting with Sheik Sharif also sends more than just a symbolic message -- that actions will be taken much more seriously than just talk, he opined. He also thanked us for U.S, support at the UN Security Council in pressing for UNSC consideration of sanctions against individuals and entities destabilizing Somalia in line with the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union. ¶3. (C) Tebeje added that the TFG still needed to be much stronger, because the TFG's weakness makes al-Shabaab appear stronger than it really is. Ethiopia hopes the U.S. will play a lead role, especially with regard to "spoilers" in the region such as Eritrea. ¶4. (C) In response to the Charge's question on Ethiopia's plans in Somalia, Tebeje said the GoE will continue its ongoing liaison relationship with TFG security personnel along the Somali border for reconnaissance and information sharing. The GoE is also training a small cohort of senior TFG security force personnel to improve their capacity (NFI), but does not have plans to train large numbers of TFG troops as they did in 2008. ¶5. (C) Tebeje asked about developments in the Security Council and said he hoped the process of considering sanctions will continue because Eritrea continued to support terrorist groups with arms and training. He said targeted sanctions on leaders sent a strong message. In a separate discussion, Dr. Tekeda shared the view that the discussion of sanctions has had a positive effect, noting that shipments have gone down since diplomatic pressure has been applied. ¶6. (C) Dr. Tekeda stressed that the threat of sanctions against senior Eritrean officials had a clear chilling effect in Asmara. Dr. Tekeda specifically noted the Sanctions Committee,s consideration of Yemane Gebreab as being a critically important move. (Note: Dr. Tekeda had a list of individuals targeted by the Somalia Sanctions Committee which included Yemane. End Note.) Dr. Tekeda stressed that, although Yemane may not make ultimate decisions in Eritrea -- a province reserved for President Isaias -- he certainly advises Isaias, and his inclusion among those sanctioned would be a critical signal to Asmara that the international community is sincere in its interest in ending Eritrea,s destabilizing activities in Ethiopia. GONZALES