Somalia - TFG President Sheikh Sharif Considering PM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000097 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-01-26 TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI KDEM SO DJ ET SUBJECT: Somalia - TFG President Sheikh Sharif Considering PM Candidates REF: a) DJIBOUTI 87 CLASSIFIED BY: Bob Patterson, Counselor for Somalia Affairs; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 5 in Djibouti, transitional President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed outlined some of the criteria he would apply in choosing a prime minister. Key among them were support for the candidate from members of his sub-clan, an ability to work with the international community, and good contacts throughout Somalia's regions. Although Sheikh Sharif did not suggest when he might announce his choice, observers here believe it would occur only after his planned February 7 - 8 visit to Mogadishu, and February 9 sidetrip to Nairobi. The President welcomed advice from the USG, including the informal nomination of candidates we believed might serve his administration well. (We suggested the name of recent UNPOS employee Mohammed Abdirizak.) Any U.S. nominee would automatically be "number one or two" on his list.Sharif said. Would-be prime ministers remain in Djibouti, where they are clogging President Sharif's waiting room, and buttonholing any members of the international community who cross the lobby of the hotel where they are staying. In a separate conversation, lameduck Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein "Nur Adde" described GoE Prime Minister Meles and Foreign Minister Seyoum as "cautious but constructive" during their early February meetings with Sharif, which "Nur Adde" attended. End summary. President Sets Criteria for Prime Minister -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In a February 5 meeting in Djibouti, Transitional Federal Government President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed outlined for us his criteria for prime minister. In addition to having the proper clan credentials (Harti, Sheikh Sharif said),he expected his prime minister to have the full backing of his sub-clan. Too many of the diaspora Somalis, Sheikh Sharif noted, did not have deep enough roots in their clans, although they might easily meet one of the President's other criteria: good relations with, and an ability to work with, the international community. Not less important were good contacts across Somalia's regions; especially, Sheikh Sharif said, strong contacts with the Somaliland and Puntland administrations. ¶3. (C) Sharif, who opened the meeting by effusively thanking the USG for its support for the Djibouti Process and for its willingness to work with his Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS),described the USG as his government's most important partner. He welcomed USG advice, and encouraged the informal nomination of any candidates we might have for prime minister. Sharif agreed that there were many Somalis who had proposed their own candidacies, and he mentioned former presidential candidates Ali Khalif Galaydh and Hassan Abshire (reftel) as among that group. ¶4. (C) We suggested recent UNPOS employee Mohammed Abdirizak as a plausible candidate, noting that he had the necessary clan credentials, was well-respected by the international community, and had played a key role in brokering with the Darod sub-clans a peaceful resolution of the conflict between former President Yusuf and Prime Minister "Nur Adde." (SRSG Ould-Abdallah has told us that he is also lobbying for Abdirizak.) Sheikh Sharif did not comment directly about Abdirizak. He said only that any USG nominee would automatically be "number one or number two" on his list. If "number two," Sharif said he would meet with us before publicly announcing his final selection. Next Steps -------------- ¶5. (C) Sharif's immediate plans were to meet with the transitional Parliament, whose members are currently attending a one-week NDI-administered course in Djibouti. He would then travel to Mogadishu, on February 7 - 8, he thought, before returning to Djibouti via a one-day layover in Nairobi on February 9. Although Sheikh Sharif did not suggest a timeline for the selection of a prime minister, observers here do not expect an announcement before the President's trip to Mogadishu. (The Transitional Federal Charter allots the President thirty days to select a prime minister.) "Cautious, Constructive" Meetings with Ethiopia -------------- -------------- -- ¶6. (C) In a separate conversation, lameduck Prime Minister Nur Hassan Huseein "Nur Adde" described Sheikh Sharif's meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles and Foreign Minister Seyoum on the DJIBOUTI 00000097 002 OF 002 margins of the early-February AU Summit as "cautious but constructive." Sheikh Sharif at the top of each meeting had announced his government's intention to "turn the page" with the GoE, and had welcomed close and frequent consultations. For their part, according to "Nur Adde," who had attended both meetings, the GoE leaders had stressed the need for stability on their long border with Somalia, and their insistence that Somalia's territory not be used as a staging ground for attacks by al-Shabaab or others on Ethiopia. Meetings with others, including AU Commissioner Ping, AU Peace and Security Council Commissioner Lamamra, UNSYG Ban, Ugandan President Museveni, Burundian President Nkurunziza, and Sudan President Bashir, were constructive, with both Museveni and the Burundian President voicing their continued commitment to AMISOM. (The only awkward moment, "Nur Adde" said, was Sheikh Sharif's failure to take him to his meeting with Qadhafi.) Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Sheikh Sharif was effusive in his thanks to the USG for its support of the Djibouti Process and its willingness to work with him as he begins his presidency. His aide said that the President has been besieged with self-appointed candidates for the job of prime minister. Ali Khalif Galaydh (reftel) emerged from Sheikh Sharif's office as we were waiting, and suggested a meeting, probably in an effort to advance his candidacy. Sharif seems well aware that the choice of prime minister will set the tone for his administration, and he seems to be entertaining all proposals, but showing his hand at this point to no one. Sharif welcomed a meeting with Ambassador Yates on February 9, when the transitional President will be in Nairobi. We plan to use that meeting to again endeavor to nudge Sharif away, if he is tempted, from the many, largely self-nominated, candidates who have long and checkered histories in Somalia and toward someone, like Mohammed Abdirizak, who has a better track record and, at least at this point, fewer enemies among Somalia's political class. SWAN To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:e3a5850a-7a5a- 428e-8cc6-6ef6e5073b08