Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA38
2009-01-30 08:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
UPDATE ON SHEIKH AWEYS AND THE HARD-LINE ARS
how-toP 300840Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0128 INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE CIA WASHDC DIA WASHDC NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL 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 000038
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL ER SO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SHEIKH AWEYS AND THE HARD-LINE ARS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000038
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL ER SO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SHEIKH AWEYS AND THE HARD-LINE ARS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C)) DWINDLING PRESENCE: Only about 20 members of the
hard-line faction of the Alliance for the Reliberation of
Somalia (ARS) remain in Asmara, according to Pekka Haavisto,
Finland's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, who met with
the faction's representatives earlier this week. Sheikh Omar
(NFI),one of Aweys' trusted lieutenants, has reportedly
returned to Somalia to lead the faction in Somalia at this
time of flux. Post believes Sheikh Omar may be Sheikh Omar
Iman Abubakar, a former ARS central committee member. In
2006, Sheikh Omar addressed a Mogadishu crowd, stating "we
will never allow a single soldier from a foreign country into
our country...we will fight against them until death,"
according to an AFP report.
2. (C) MEETING WITH THE EGYPTIANS: Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
met with the Egyptian ambassador at the Egyptian embassy in
Asmara January 29. Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Hamouda reported
that Aweys remains opposed to the Djibouti accords and said
foreign countries and the international community should keep
hands off Somalia. Hamouda told the ambassador that "Aweys
would now be very open to a discussion with the United
States." Some commanders of the Aweys faction reportedly
coordinate on the ground in Somalia with mainline ARS
commanders. (COMMENT: When the commanders' clan or sub-clan
loyalties overlap, we suspect. END COMMENT)
3. (C) COMMENT: Aweys, stay in Asmara may be coming to an
end. We,ve heard that he,s traveled twice to Somalia in
past months, but has chosen to return to Eritrea because of
the unsettled security situation in his homeland. Members of
his entourage chafe at Eritrean attempts to control their
movements and communications. If a more Islamist-friendly
security environment emerges in Mogadishu and elsewhere,
Aweys is likely to seek to return. The Isaias regime may not
be pleased with that prospect, as it now largely controls the
faction,s public pronouncements and reportedly rakes off
millions of dollars annually in &overhead8 from donations
to the hard-line ARS. END COMMENT.
MCMULLEN
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EX AND AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PREL KISL ER SO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SHEIKH AWEYS AND THE HARD-LINE ARS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C)) DWINDLING PRESENCE: Only about 20 members of the
hard-line faction of the Alliance for the Reliberation of
Somalia (ARS) remain in Asmara, according to Pekka Haavisto,
Finland's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, who met with
the faction's representatives earlier this week. Sheikh Omar
(NFI),one of Aweys' trusted lieutenants, has reportedly
returned to Somalia to lead the faction in Somalia at this
time of flux. Post believes Sheikh Omar may be Sheikh Omar
Iman Abubakar, a former ARS central committee member. In
2006, Sheikh Omar addressed a Mogadishu crowd, stating "we
will never allow a single soldier from a foreign country into
our country...we will fight against them until death,"
according to an AFP report.
2. (C) MEETING WITH THE EGYPTIANS: Sheikh Hasan Dahir Aweys
met with the Egyptian ambassador at the Egyptian embassy in
Asmara January 29. Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Hamouda reported
that Aweys remains opposed to the Djibouti accords and said
foreign countries and the international community should keep
hands off Somalia. Hamouda told the ambassador that "Aweys
would now be very open to a discussion with the United
States." Some commanders of the Aweys faction reportedly
coordinate on the ground in Somalia with mainline ARS
commanders. (COMMENT: When the commanders' clan or sub-clan
loyalties overlap, we suspect. END COMMENT)
3. (C) COMMENT: Aweys, stay in Asmara may be coming to an
end. We,ve heard that he,s traveled twice to Somalia in
past months, but has chosen to return to Eritrea because of
the unsettled security situation in his homeland. Members of
his entourage chafe at Eritrean attempts to control their
movements and communications. If a more Islamist-friendly
security environment emerges in Mogadishu and elsewhere,
Aweys is likely to seek to return. The Isaias regime may not
be pleased with that prospect, as it now largely controls the
faction,s public pronouncements and reportedly rakes off
millions of dollars annually in &overhead8 from donations
to the hard-line ARS. END COMMENT.
MCMULLEN