Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DJIBOUTI108
2009-02-11 09:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
Somalia - President Sharif Begins PM Candidate Interview
how-toVZCZCXRO8238 RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDJ #0108 0420943 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 110943Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0092 INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMCSUU/CJTF HOA RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000108
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-01-26
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI KDEM SO DJ
SUBJECT: Somalia - President Sharif Begins PM Candidate Interview
Process
REF: a) DJIBOUTI 105
CLASSIFIED BY: Bob Patterson, Counselor for Somalia Affairs; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000108
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-01-26
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI KDEM SO DJ
SUBJECT: Somalia - President Sharif Begins PM Candidate Interview
Process
REF: a) DJIBOUTI 105
CLASSIFIED BY: Bob Patterson, Counselor for Somalia Affairs; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: In a brief, February 11 meeting, on the heels of
his successful visit to Mogadishu, transitional President Sheikh
Sharif previewed what we believe to be the four finalists for prime
minister. Sharif's list coincided with the list given us February
10 by Sharif Hassan (reftel). In addition to the four inside-track
candidates, Sharif will interview seven others primarily, we
believe, to convince other interest groups that they are receiving
a fair hearing. At this juncture, it seems likely that Sharif will
announce his prime minister nominee no earlier than the afternoon
of February 12. In the February 11 meeting, we again lobbied for
former UNPOS consultant Mohamed Abdirizak, but assured Sheikh
Sharif that we could work enthusiastically with any of the four
short-listed candidates. Sharif underscored his appreciation for
our collaborative working relationship. End summary.
2. (C) On February 11, Ambassador Swan and the Somalia Unit
Counselor met briefly with President Sheikh Sharif the day after
his return from what has been described to us as a successful,
four-day trip to Mogadishu. A relaxed, confident Sharif told us he
accomplished everything he wanted with the visit. Sharif said the
next challenge is the appointment of a prime minister and echoed
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia Central Committee
Chairman Sharif Hassan (reftel) in suggesting to us that he had
narrowed the list of candidates to four: former UNPOS consultant
Mohamed Abdirizak, son of the former President Omar Abdirashid
Sharmarke, Somalia's Nairobi Embassy Political Counselor Mohamed
Osman "Edson," and Dubai-based businessman Said Abdullahi Mohamed.
Perhaps in a gesture to the United States Sharif, after a pause,
unexpectedly added a fifth candidate to the list, Amcit Abdulkareem
Jama, but admitted that Jama had not traveled to Djibouti from the
U.S. to lobby for the job. (For biographical information on Jama,
see para 5.)
3. (C) Somalia Unit Counselor noted that the four finalists all
seemed well-qualified, but briefly reviewed again the credentials
of Mohamed Abdirizak, and concluded by expressing our willingness
to work enthusiastically with whomever of the four candidates
Sharif chose as prime minister. (Note: UN Special Representative
Ould-Abdallah separately provided us with a complete list of the
eleven candidates to be interviewed by Sheikh Sharif on February 11
- 12. It included candidates that Sheikh Sharif had in earlier
meetings told us were not contenders. We believe that Sharif is
conducting protocol interviews with them in order not to alienate
the clan or interest groups backing their candidacies. In addition
to the four short-listed candidates, they are: Ali Khalif Galaydh,
Hassan Abshir Farah, Maslaw Mohamed Siyad, Ali Abdi Aware,
Abdirizak Osman Jurile, Abdirashid Irro, and Nuradin Aden Diriye.
According to the schedule, the last interview will end at noon,
February 12.)
4. (C) Sheikh Sharif told us that the number of candidates is
increasing with each successive day. He did not suggest which of
the four short-listed candidates might have the inside track as the
selection process draws to a conclusion. Sharif said that it will
be difficult to choose between the candidates as each one has his
own group of supporters. He said that he needs time to make his
decision, but indicated that he is determined to move quickly.
5. (U) Biographical information for Abdulkareem Jama: Jama is an
Amcit who is has been employed in various capacities by the
Congressional Quarterly Press in Washington, D.C., since 2003. He
has been active in Somali affairs in the U.S., and currently serves
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Islamic
Academy, the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and the Communities of
Faith United for Housing. Jama was Chairman of the Board of the
Somali Rescue Agency (1997 - 2001) and President of the
Somali-American Peace Council (2007 - 2008).
SWAN
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:a317d1b6-816a- 48fd-8675-3cdb4f7a7421
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-01-26
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI KDEM SO DJ
SUBJECT: Somalia - President Sharif Begins PM Candidate Interview
Process
REF: a) DJIBOUTI 105
CLASSIFIED BY: Bob Patterson, Counselor for Somalia Affairs; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: In a brief, February 11 meeting, on the heels of
his successful visit to Mogadishu, transitional President Sheikh
Sharif previewed what we believe to be the four finalists for prime
minister. Sharif's list coincided with the list given us February
10 by Sharif Hassan (reftel). In addition to the four inside-track
candidates, Sharif will interview seven others primarily, we
believe, to convince other interest groups that they are receiving
a fair hearing. At this juncture, it seems likely that Sharif will
announce his prime minister nominee no earlier than the afternoon
of February 12. In the February 11 meeting, we again lobbied for
former UNPOS consultant Mohamed Abdirizak, but assured Sheikh
Sharif that we could work enthusiastically with any of the four
short-listed candidates. Sharif underscored his appreciation for
our collaborative working relationship. End summary.
2. (C) On February 11, Ambassador Swan and the Somalia Unit
Counselor met briefly with President Sheikh Sharif the day after
his return from what has been described to us as a successful,
four-day trip to Mogadishu. A relaxed, confident Sharif told us he
accomplished everything he wanted with the visit. Sharif said the
next challenge is the appointment of a prime minister and echoed
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia Central Committee
Chairman Sharif Hassan (reftel) in suggesting to us that he had
narrowed the list of candidates to four: former UNPOS consultant
Mohamed Abdirizak, son of the former President Omar Abdirashid
Sharmarke, Somalia's Nairobi Embassy Political Counselor Mohamed
Osman "Edson," and Dubai-based businessman Said Abdullahi Mohamed.
Perhaps in a gesture to the United States Sharif, after a pause,
unexpectedly added a fifth candidate to the list, Amcit Abdulkareem
Jama, but admitted that Jama had not traveled to Djibouti from the
U.S. to lobby for the job. (For biographical information on Jama,
see para 5.)
3. (C) Somalia Unit Counselor noted that the four finalists all
seemed well-qualified, but briefly reviewed again the credentials
of Mohamed Abdirizak, and concluded by expressing our willingness
to work enthusiastically with whomever of the four candidates
Sharif chose as prime minister. (Note: UN Special Representative
Ould-Abdallah separately provided us with a complete list of the
eleven candidates to be interviewed by Sheikh Sharif on February 11
- 12. It included candidates that Sheikh Sharif had in earlier
meetings told us were not contenders. We believe that Sharif is
conducting protocol interviews with them in order not to alienate
the clan or interest groups backing their candidacies. In addition
to the four short-listed candidates, they are: Ali Khalif Galaydh,
Hassan Abshir Farah, Maslaw Mohamed Siyad, Ali Abdi Aware,
Abdirizak Osman Jurile, Abdirashid Irro, and Nuradin Aden Diriye.
According to the schedule, the last interview will end at noon,
February 12.)
4. (C) Sheikh Sharif told us that the number of candidates is
increasing with each successive day. He did not suggest which of
the four short-listed candidates might have the inside track as the
selection process draws to a conclusion. Sharif said that it will
be difficult to choose between the candidates as each one has his
own group of supporters. He said that he needs time to make his
decision, but indicated that he is determined to move quickly.
5. (U) Biographical information for Abdulkareem Jama: Jama is an
Amcit who is has been employed in various capacities by the
Congressional Quarterly Press in Washington, D.C., since 2003. He
has been active in Somali affairs in the U.S., and currently serves
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Islamic
Academy, the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and the Communities of
Faith United for Housing. Jama was Chairman of the Board of the
Somali Rescue Agency (1997 - 2001) and President of the
Somali-American Peace Council (2007 - 2008).
SWAN
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:a317d1b6-816a- 48fd-8675-3cdb4f7a7421