Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA49
2009-01-12 12:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

USAU: AU'S URGENT REQUEST TO EQUIP AMISOM, SOMALI

Tags:  PREL PGOV USUN AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3334
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7660
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000049 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, PM, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV USUN AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU'S URGENT REQUEST TO EQUIP AMISOM, SOMALI
FORCES

REF: 08 KAMPALA 1665

Classified By: Ambassador John A. Simon, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000049

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E, PM, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV USUN AU
SUBJECT: USAU: AU'S URGENT REQUEST TO EQUIP AMISOM, SOMALI
FORCES

REF: 08 KAMPALA 1665

Classified By: Ambassador John A. Simon, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).



1. (U) This cable contains an Action Request in paragraph 10.


2. (U) Summary: The African Union is asking the international
community, principally the US, EU, and UK, to commit immediate financia
and logistical support not only to AMISOM, but also to a 10,000 strong
joint security force composed of Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalis (ARS) elements. The
Somali forces would act as a buffer between AMISOM and the hard-line
opposition forces, and they would also fill the void left by the
Ethiopian National Defense Forces that are withdrawing from Somalia.
The AU has invited the US, EU, and UK to a meeting on January 17 in
Addis Ababa to discuss their respective commitments to AMISOM as well a
to the Somali security forces. End Summary.


3. (U) On January 10, the AU hosted a meeting of AMISOM Troop
Contributing Countries (Burundi and Uganda),Somalia, the UN, and
Ethiopia (in its capacity as Chair of the International Governmental
Authority on Development (IGAD) to review the political and security
situation in Somalia and the status of AMISOM's build-up. Burundi and
Uganda sent their defense ministers, General Germain Niyoyankana and
Crispus Kiyonga, and Somalia sent is deputy prime minister and minister
of defense, Abdallah Boss Ahmed. Also present were Nicolas Bwakira,
Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson, Ahmedou
Ould-Abdallah, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for
Somalia, and ARS representative Mohamed Abdi Mohamed "Ghandi."

4. (U) Briefings on the political and security situation in Somalia
laid out the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. On the
political front, efforts are reportedly under way to form an expanded
parliament that would elect a new president and other senior government
officials.
The process leading to the election is scheduled to take place in
Djibouti from January 20-26. The election itself will be held on
January 26. On the security front, the Somali representatives at the

meeting asserted that there had been a significant threat reduction in
the country, particularly in Mogadishu. The UN and Ugandan
representatives corroborated this assessment. Nonetheless, participant
expressed concern about the threat posed by Al-Shabaab, particularly in
the event Somali and AMISOM forces are not adequately equipped. As far
as USAU is aware, there was no discussion about withdrawing AMISOM.


5. (SBU) Meeting participants also received a briefing on a proposed
full package of assistance by the UN to AMISOM. The UN is currently in
the process of carrying out a Technical Assessment Mission to ascertain
AMISOM's specific needs. Meeting participants wanted to know when the
UNSC would adopt a resolution authorizing a UN Peacekeeping Operation
in Somalia. Uganda, the UNSC's newest non-permanent member, was
particularly insistent on the need for an eventual UNPKO role. "It's
the only chance to save Somalia," Peace and Security Council Secretary
Admore Kambudzi told USAU PolChief following the meeting. Without the
UN, he added, "Al-Shabaab will gain ground and we will back to the
situation in 2002."

6. (SBU) The AU and AMISOM troop contributing countries remain firmly
committed to the planned deployment of two additional battalions.
Burundi and Uganda reiterated their call for additional equipment
necessary to carry out their mission. Uganda's Permanent Representativ
to the AU, Ambassador Mull Katende, told USAU after the meeting that th
equipment provided to the Ugandan battalion to date was insufficient.
"For the kind of mission we are in, it won't do," he said, echoing wha
Ugandan defense officials have told our Embassy in Kampala (see reftel)
They also sought assurances from the AU regarding timely payment of
salaries and reimbursements.

7. (C) In addition, meeting participants called on the international
community to "redouble its commitments" toward the functioning of a
10,000 strong joint security force composed of TFG and ARS elements.
USAU has learned that the Somali Defense Minister envisions placing si
battalions, each with 500 to 600 men, in positions formerly held by
Ethiopian troops.
Without immediate support from the international community, those
Somali forces could hold out between 30 to 45 days, the Defense Ministe
said.

The logistical support would include food, accommodations, equipment,
and medical supplies. "Financial incentives" are also being sought.
(Note: On January 11, AUC Special Representative Bwakira asked USAU if
the USG could take the lead on supplying food rations for the AMISOM an
Somali forces. End Note.) The Somali Defense Minister reportedly told
the gathering on January 10 that his forces would "die first" in order
to protect AMISOM forces.


ADDIS ABAB 00000049 002 OF 002



8. (C) Bwakira told USAU that the parallel calls for support to AMISOM
and to Somali forces are justified given the different mandates of the
two forces. "Our biggest concern is over the delay in the delivery of
equipment needed by AMISOM," Bwakira added, referring to the
anticipated late January arrival of US-supplied light equipment for use
by the Ugandan and Burundian battalions. Heavier equipment, such as
armored personnel vehicles, will take at least four months to reach
Somalia. Bwakira said the mere fact that AMISOM only has four
battalions on the ground to date where it should have nine argues for
standing up the Somali forces. "The Somali situation is an emergency
situation right now," he stressed,

9. (U) The same participants decided to reconvene on January 17 in an
expanded format to include the US, EU, and UK. The international
partners will be asked to discuss their respective commitments to AMISO
and to the Somali forces. Separately, our AU interlocutors informed us
that AUC Chairperson Jean Ping will be traveling this week to the Gulf
(Qatar in particular) to appeal to Arab states for their support.

10. (C) Action Request and Comment: Given the urgency of the request,
USAU seeks detailed guidance from the Department, preferably no later
than COB on January 15. Specifically, USAU requires detail on what
commitments it can make on January 17 with respect to equipping and
supporting the Somali forces identified by the Somali Minister of
Defense. The request for support for the Somali forces potentially
raises questions about vetting of those forces, about whose command the
would fall under, and financial and equipment accountability mechanisms
that would need to be put in place. In addressing the funding for
Somali forces, we should consider how Algeria's offer of an airlift for
AMISOM could free up USG resources that could then be devoted to beefin
up the Somali forces.

11. (C) Comment continued: While the deliberations at the January 10
meeting offered some reason for optimism on the political and security
fronts in Somalia, our AU interlocutors, as well as representatives
from troop contributing countries, were consistent in their view that
Somalia remains precarious. The AU is counting on the US to fulfill ou
existing commitment to adequately equip and transport the additional
AMISOM battalions. They are fully aware of the time it will take for
US-supplied equipment to reach Somalia. The US, EU, and UK will want t
evaluate the latest, and not entirely unexpected, request for logistica
support for 10,000 Somali forces, but that request should in no way
detract from our existing commitments to AMISOM. We cannot afford to
take our foot off the accelerator. End Qment.
YAMAMOTO