Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA127
2009-04-22 08:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ARS "PATRIOTIC WING" GRASPS FOR RELEVANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO5817 RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHAE #0127 1120842 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 220842Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0259 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000127
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS SO ER
SUBJECT: ARS "PATRIOTIC WING" GRASPS FOR RELEVANCE
REF: ASMARA 117
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000127
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS SO ER
SUBJECT: ARS "PATRIOTIC WING" GRASPS FOR RELEVANCE
REF: ASMARA 117
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Members of the "patriotic wing" of the Aweys
faction of the ARS told Emboffs they were disappointed with
the Somali Parliament's decision to implement sharia law,
asserting that the majority of Somalis are against sharia and
the law only passed due to fear of reprisal. The patriotic
wing delegation, led by Ambassador Hashi, asked for USG
support in forming a Patriotic Front that would formally
split from Islamists in the ARS. The delegation also
mentioned Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys had returned to Asmara on
April 18 and would most likely be travelling to Somalia,
eventually, to join the Islamists. End Summary.
"SOMALIS DON'T WANT SHARIA"
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Hashi, chair of the Aweys faction Foreign
Relations committee, insisted that Somalis do not need sharia
law at this time, adding that the majority of the country is
against sharia. When asked why the bill passed unanimously
with no opposition from stakeholders, he simply replied the
populace is too frightened to object. Despite the
delegation's insistence that Somalia needs a plan for
comprehensive infrastructure rather than sharia law, the
group was unable to produce its own plans for stability,
stating "we are still working on it."
FROM ARS RUMP TO PATRIOTIC FRONT
--------------
3. (C) Hashi also relayed that the patriotic wing of the ARS
will soon formally split with the remaining Islamist members.
Hashi and his colleagues specifically avoided talk of
numbers. He gave no indication as to how many Aweys faction
members are still in country and how many of them are
patriotic or Islamist. Nonetheless, he requested USG
assistance in forming the Patriotic Front, which would be a
new political entity splintered from the rump ARS in Asmara.
Hashi also mentioned that the group's Inspector General,
Mahad Yusuf, will travel to Somalia in the near future to
garner support for the soon-to-be formed Patriotic Front.
Two members had already left for Somalia, according to Hashi.
AWEYS' FUTURE ROLE?
--------------
4. (C) According to the delegation, Sheikh Aweys returned to
Asmara April 18 and would be leaving for Somalia "to join his
constituency, Hezbul Islam." Mahad Yusuf also alleged that
Aweys would no longer be in charge of the rump ARS agenda and
would soon be written out of the group. Ambassador Hashi
hastily backtracked and gave a more vague timeline, stating
that this would happen in the future, but not right now.
5. (C) COMMENT: The ARS patriotic wing is in a desperate
battle for relevance. The recent de-grouping of key ARS
affiliates (reftel) along with the passing of sharia law in
Somalia has left the current members even more isolated than
before. While individual members, such as Ambassador Hashi,
wield a modicum of personal clout, collectively the group's
stance might only resonate with the views of Somali
diasporans disjointed from on-the-ground realities.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS SO ER
SUBJECT: ARS "PATRIOTIC WING" GRASPS FOR RELEVANCE
REF: ASMARA 117
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Members of the "patriotic wing" of the Aweys
faction of the ARS told Emboffs they were disappointed with
the Somali Parliament's decision to implement sharia law,
asserting that the majority of Somalis are against sharia and
the law only passed due to fear of reprisal. The patriotic
wing delegation, led by Ambassador Hashi, asked for USG
support in forming a Patriotic Front that would formally
split from Islamists in the ARS. The delegation also
mentioned Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys had returned to Asmara on
April 18 and would most likely be travelling to Somalia,
eventually, to join the Islamists. End Summary.
"SOMALIS DON'T WANT SHARIA"
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Hashi, chair of the Aweys faction Foreign
Relations committee, insisted that Somalis do not need sharia
law at this time, adding that the majority of the country is
against sharia. When asked why the bill passed unanimously
with no opposition from stakeholders, he simply replied the
populace is too frightened to object. Despite the
delegation's insistence that Somalia needs a plan for
comprehensive infrastructure rather than sharia law, the
group was unable to produce its own plans for stability,
stating "we are still working on it."
FROM ARS RUMP TO PATRIOTIC FRONT
--------------
3. (C) Hashi also relayed that the patriotic wing of the ARS
will soon formally split with the remaining Islamist members.
Hashi and his colleagues specifically avoided talk of
numbers. He gave no indication as to how many Aweys faction
members are still in country and how many of them are
patriotic or Islamist. Nonetheless, he requested USG
assistance in forming the Patriotic Front, which would be a
new political entity splintered from the rump ARS in Asmara.
Hashi also mentioned that the group's Inspector General,
Mahad Yusuf, will travel to Somalia in the near future to
garner support for the soon-to-be formed Patriotic Front.
Two members had already left for Somalia, according to Hashi.
AWEYS' FUTURE ROLE?
--------------
4. (C) According to the delegation, Sheikh Aweys returned to
Asmara April 18 and would be leaving for Somalia "to join his
constituency, Hezbul Islam." Mahad Yusuf also alleged that
Aweys would no longer be in charge of the rump ARS agenda and
would soon be written out of the group. Ambassador Hashi
hastily backtracked and gave a more vague timeline, stating
that this would happen in the future, but not right now.
5. (C) COMMENT: The ARS patriotic wing is in a desperate
battle for relevance. The recent de-grouping of key ARS
affiliates (reftel) along with the passing of sharia law in
Somalia has left the current members even more isolated than
before. While individual members, such as Ambassador Hashi,
wield a modicum of personal clout, collectively the group's
stance might only resonate with the views of Somali
diasporans disjointed from on-the-ground realities.
MCMULLEN