Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA167
2009-06-01 13:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
PATRIOTIC WING FORMALLY CUTS TIES WITH AWEYS
how-toVZCZCXRO7375 RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHAE #0167 1521322 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011322Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0302 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000167
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ER
SUBJECT: PATRIOTIC WING FORMALLY CUTS TIES WITH AWEYS
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000167
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ER
SUBJECT: PATRIOTIC WING FORMALLY CUTS TIES WITH AWEYS
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The Patriotic Wing of the ARS has officially cut ties
with Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, according to the group's
Inspector General, Mahad Yusuf. Yusuf told PolOff that the
organization has no desire to be affiliated with Sheikh
Aweys, Hezbul Islam, or Al-Shabaab. Instead, he continued,
the Patriotic Wing will move forward under the mantra of
"peace through dialogue." Yusuf stated he views the
Patriotic Wing as a buffer between the "collapsing" TFG and
the encroaching Islamists (Hezbul Islam and Al-Shabaab). In
a white paper Yusuf handed to PolOff, the Patriotic Wing
states "there is no reason to continue to fight."
2. (C) The Patriotic Wing consists of 13 core members, Yusuf
told PolOff. The group is currently in a reshuffle and
recruitment phase; Yusuf stated that efforts are under way to
recruit interest from diaspora members to fill new titles and
positions. Despite the overall lack of organizational
structure, the membership unanimously asked Dr. Zakaria
Mohamud Haji Abdi to step down as Chair, temporarily
replacing him with Mahad Yusuf. Dr. Zakaria previously
advocated for an all-stakeholder sit down meeting that would
include representatives from Islamist factions, an idea that
may have been unpopular with the Patriotic Wing membership.
Other members currently aligned with the Patriotic Wing
include:
- Ambassador Ahmad Abdi Hashi (Hashara): former Ambassador to
the UN
- Ambassador Salah Mohammed Ali: former Ambassador to the UK
- Aminah Aminah Warsame: former ARS Chair of Justice and
Human Rights
3. (C) COMMENT: The departure of Sheikh Aweys from Eritrea
seems to have dried up funding for Eritrea's remaining ARS
Somalis. Mahad Yusuf asked PolOff (and several members of
European diplomatic missions) for funding to travel abroad
and put the Patriotic Wing on the radar. In the past, Yusuf
and other resident Somalis traveled frequently to Canada, the
United Kingdom, the UAE, and other locations on the Eritrean
government's dime. Now, however, it appears the remaining
Somalis are in a financial and political pinch. They have
lost clout among their peers who have sided with the
Islamists and simultaneously lost economic support from their
host country.
TABLER-STONE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ER
SUBJECT: PATRIOTIC WING FORMALLY CUTS TIES WITH AWEYS
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The Patriotic Wing of the ARS has officially cut ties
with Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, according to the group's
Inspector General, Mahad Yusuf. Yusuf told PolOff that the
organization has no desire to be affiliated with Sheikh
Aweys, Hezbul Islam, or Al-Shabaab. Instead, he continued,
the Patriotic Wing will move forward under the mantra of
"peace through dialogue." Yusuf stated he views the
Patriotic Wing as a buffer between the "collapsing" TFG and
the encroaching Islamists (Hezbul Islam and Al-Shabaab). In
a white paper Yusuf handed to PolOff, the Patriotic Wing
states "there is no reason to continue to fight."
2. (C) The Patriotic Wing consists of 13 core members, Yusuf
told PolOff. The group is currently in a reshuffle and
recruitment phase; Yusuf stated that efforts are under way to
recruit interest from diaspora members to fill new titles and
positions. Despite the overall lack of organizational
structure, the membership unanimously asked Dr. Zakaria
Mohamud Haji Abdi to step down as Chair, temporarily
replacing him with Mahad Yusuf. Dr. Zakaria previously
advocated for an all-stakeholder sit down meeting that would
include representatives from Islamist factions, an idea that
may have been unpopular with the Patriotic Wing membership.
Other members currently aligned with the Patriotic Wing
include:
- Ambassador Ahmad Abdi Hashi (Hashara): former Ambassador to
the UN
- Ambassador Salah Mohammed Ali: former Ambassador to the UK
- Aminah Aminah Warsame: former ARS Chair of Justice and
Human Rights
3. (C) COMMENT: The departure of Sheikh Aweys from Eritrea
seems to have dried up funding for Eritrea's remaining ARS
Somalis. Mahad Yusuf asked PolOff (and several members of
European diplomatic missions) for funding to travel abroad
and put the Patriotic Wing on the radar. In the past, Yusuf
and other resident Somalis traveled frequently to Canada, the
United Kingdom, the UAE, and other locations on the Eritrean
government's dime. Now, however, it appears the remaining
Somalis are in a financial and political pinch. They have
lost clout among their peers who have sided with the
Islamists and simultaneously lost economic support from their
host country.
TABLER-STONE