Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA103
2009-03-30 15:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
how-toP 301503Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0231 INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE CIA WASHDC DIA WASHDC NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE COMUSNAVCENT
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000103
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER ER SO SU
SUBJECT: AWEYS ON THE MOVE
REF: FERNANDEZ-HUSBANDS EMAIL OF 30MAR09
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000103
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER ER SO SU
SUBJECT: AWEYS ON THE MOVE
REF: FERNANDEZ-HUSBANDS EMAIL OF 30MAR09
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) AWEYS IN SUDAN - JUST VISITING?
--------------
Hassan Dahir Aweys, a UN-listed terrorist and leader of the
hard-line faction of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of
Somalia, recently traveled to Sudan, according to Embassy
Asmara contacts. Embassy Khartoum reports Aweys met with
Bashir in Khartoum last week. Dr. Taiser Ali, the Sudanese
head of the Peacebuilding Center for the Horn of Africa, says
Aweys went to Khartoum to attend a summit of Arab leaders.
Eritrean opposition and Somali websites alike report that
Aweys escaped virtual house arrest to flee to Sudan and avoid
the restrictions of the Eritrean government.
2. (C) THE AWEYS FACTION VIEW
--------------
PolOff met March 30 with Mahad Yusuf, Inspector General of
the hard-line ARS faction. According to Mahad, Sheikh Aweys
is in Sudan meeting with contacts and "pushing the ARS
agenda." Mahad did not mention how long Sheikh Aweys will be
in Sudan, but implied that he will return to Eritrea. Mahad
stated that Aweys is still in charge of the Aweys ARS
faction, but said it is the general membership that sets the
agenda for Aweys to then push to his Islamist constituencies.
"Aweys is seeking a balance between the nationalists and the
Islamists," Mahad continued. Mahad also mentioned the newly
formed Hizbul Islam is not affiliated with the hardline ARS,
but instead comprises Islamist members who left to follow a
more radical agenda.
3. (C) CAN I MOVE TO CAIRO? NO
--------------
The Egyptian ambassador to Eritrea revealed that Aweys in
recent weeks asked to relocate with his family to Cairo, but
the Egyptian government refused the request. This seems to
indicate that Aweys is seeking to depart from Asmara and set
up shop elsewhere.
4. (C) COMMENT
--------------
The Isaias regime profits politically and financially from
having the Aweys ARS faction in Eritrea and under its
control. Whether or not Aweys has decamped to Sudan, is (or
was) there temporarily to attend a conference, or is making
himself available to negotiate with the Transitional Federal
Government, it is apparent that his exile/sanctuary in Asmara
is not permanent. Without Aweys in his pocket, Isaias cannot
rake off millions in "overhead" from Islamist contributors to
the Aweys ARS faction and will lose Eritrea's main client in
the Somali fight. Islamist advances in southern Somalia
combined by the potential departure of Aweys from Eritrea may
obviate the need for an Eritrean funnel for money and arms to
radical Islamist forces in Somalia. While we cannot judge
whether Aweys' departure from Eritrea would be a good thing
overall for Somalia, it would certainly weaken the hand of
the Isaias regime in its role of spoiler in Somalia.
MCMULLEN
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER ER SO SU
SUBJECT: AWEYS ON THE MOVE
REF: FERNANDEZ-HUSBANDS EMAIL OF 30MAR09
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) AWEYS IN SUDAN - JUST VISITING?
--------------
Hassan Dahir Aweys, a UN-listed terrorist and leader of the
hard-line faction of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of
Somalia, recently traveled to Sudan, according to Embassy
Asmara contacts. Embassy Khartoum reports Aweys met with
Bashir in Khartoum last week. Dr. Taiser Ali, the Sudanese
head of the Peacebuilding Center for the Horn of Africa, says
Aweys went to Khartoum to attend a summit of Arab leaders.
Eritrean opposition and Somali websites alike report that
Aweys escaped virtual house arrest to flee to Sudan and avoid
the restrictions of the Eritrean government.
2. (C) THE AWEYS FACTION VIEW
--------------
PolOff met March 30 with Mahad Yusuf, Inspector General of
the hard-line ARS faction. According to Mahad, Sheikh Aweys
is in Sudan meeting with contacts and "pushing the ARS
agenda." Mahad did not mention how long Sheikh Aweys will be
in Sudan, but implied that he will return to Eritrea. Mahad
stated that Aweys is still in charge of the Aweys ARS
faction, but said it is the general membership that sets the
agenda for Aweys to then push to his Islamist constituencies.
"Aweys is seeking a balance between the nationalists and the
Islamists," Mahad continued. Mahad also mentioned the newly
formed Hizbul Islam is not affiliated with the hardline ARS,
but instead comprises Islamist members who left to follow a
more radical agenda.
3. (C) CAN I MOVE TO CAIRO? NO
--------------
The Egyptian ambassador to Eritrea revealed that Aweys in
recent weeks asked to relocate with his family to Cairo, but
the Egyptian government refused the request. This seems to
indicate that Aweys is seeking to depart from Asmara and set
up shop elsewhere.
4. (C) COMMENT
--------------
The Isaias regime profits politically and financially from
having the Aweys ARS faction in Eritrea and under its
control. Whether or not Aweys has decamped to Sudan, is (or
was) there temporarily to attend a conference, or is making
himself available to negotiate with the Transitional Federal
Government, it is apparent that his exile/sanctuary in Asmara
is not permanent. Without Aweys in his pocket, Isaias cannot
rake off millions in "overhead" from Islamist contributors to
the Aweys ARS faction and will lose Eritrea's main client in
the Somali fight. Islamist advances in southern Somalia
combined by the potential departure of Aweys from Eritrea may
obviate the need for an Eritrean funnel for money and arms to
radical Islamist forces in Somalia. While we cannot judge
whether Aweys' departure from Eritrea would be a good thing
overall for Somalia, it would certainly weaken the hand of
the Isaias regime in its role of spoiler in Somalia.
MCMULLEN