Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA83
2009-01-14 14:25:00
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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DE RUEHDS #0083/01 0141425
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141425Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3377
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7665
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000083 

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 000083

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 financial 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 as 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, participants 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 Representative to the AU,
Ambassador Mull Katende, told USAU after the meeting that the
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 what 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 six battalions,
each with 500 to 600 men, in positions formerly held by
Ethiopian troops. Without immediate support from the

ADDIS ABAB 00000083 002 OF 002


international community, those Somali forces could hold out
between 30 to 45 days, the Defense Minister 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 and 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.


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 AMISOM 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 they 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 beefing
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 our 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 to evaluate the
latest, and not entirely unexpected, request for logistical
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
Comment.
YAMAMOTO