UGANDA: ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON'S MEETING WITH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KAMPALA 001280

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER MASS MCAP SO UG
SUBJECT: UGANDA: ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON'S MEETING WITH
SOMALIA TFG PRESIDENT

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Aaron Sampson for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: Somalia's Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) President Sheikh Sharif said AMISOM must retaliate
against extremists or risk losing popular support in
Mogadishu, and asked the U.S. to pressure Egypt, the European
Union, and others to honor commitments to support the TFG.
He added that the TFG is trying to take advantage of
infighting between al Shabaab and Hizbul al Islam but is in
desperate need of financial support to strengthen its
political and military effectiveness. President Sharif
discussed Kenyan plans to create a "buffer zone" in Jubaland,
and Assistant Secretary Carson cautioned him against the
recruitment of Somali soldiers from the Dadaab refugee camp
in northeast Kenya. The Assistant Secretary said the U.S.
stands behind President Sharif and will continue to support
the TFG both directly and through Burundi and Uganda. He
also promised to follow up on Egyptian and European Union
pledges of support for the TFG. End Summary.

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TFG Security
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2. (S) TFG President Sheikh Sharif, Foreign Minister Ali Jama
Jangali, State Minister for Presidential Affairs Hassan
Moalin Mohamud Ali, and Somali Ambassador to Uganda Sayid
Ahmed Sheikh Dahir met with Assistant Secretary Carson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Huddleston, and
Ambassador Lanier on October 24. TFG leaders had traveled to
Kampala to attend the October 19-23 African Union Special
Summit for Refugees, Returnees, and Internally Displaced
Persons (septel). Referring to the deadly September 17
attack on AMISOM headquarters in Mogadishu and the October 22
attempt to target his aircraft as it departed Mogadishu for
Kampala, President Sharif said he does not believe that al
Shabaab has someone inside the TFG. He noted that the runway
in Mogadishu is open, making it impossible to conceal
movements of his airplane.

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Taking Advantage of Extremists' Infighting
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3. (S) Sharif said fighting between al Shabaab and Hizbul al
Islam has given the TFG breathing room to rebuild the Somali
army, and that the TFG is taking advantage of this by sending
some officers for additional training. The TFG is also
considering replacing some military commanders with more
effective officers. Fighting between extremists has boosted
the TFG's image among the Somali people by showing that
extremists have no agenda beyond fighting, killing, and
slaughtering civilians, and has enabled the TFG to attract
new supporters. The TFG is also making inroads within Hizbul
al Islam, which Sharif said is not as ideologically extreme
as al Shabaab.

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TFG Political Effectiveness: We Need Money
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4. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson encouraged President Sharif
to expand the inclusiveness of his government across clan,
sub-clan, and regional lines to bring in as many moderate and
thoughtful voices as possible. Assistant Secretary Carson
also encouraged the TFG to continue to push its message of
peace, stability, moderation and the creation of a new
Somalia, and said the U.S. is moving forward with plans to
amplify the TFG's voice by supporting a TFG radio station in
Mogadishu. He stressed the importance of delivering services
to the Somali people, and urged the President to look for
ways to provide services such as health care, schools, and
books in areas under TFG control. The Assistant Secretary
said the U.S. stands ready to provide books, teaching
materials, and/or health clinic supplies.


5. (S) President Sharif said the TFG has made great strides
in spreading its message and is trying to decentralize
government to give local people greater and more direct
control. To this end, the TFG plans to replace unqualified
local administrators with new "decent" officials capable of
leading local governments. Sharif described local government
officials in Mogadishu as "incapable of running a city." He
said the TFG is also reaching out to Puntland, that his Prime
Minister recently visited Puntland, and that the TFG will

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soon invite Puntland officials to Mogadishu in the hope of
working cooperatively. Sharif acknowledged rumors of an
impending cabinet reshuffle, but said his main focus is
addressing the challenges of local administration and the
reorganization of security forces. He said that Somali
forces need refresher training as his forces often act more
like militias due to prolonged service in combat zones. A
battalion of 600 troops is currently training in Djibouti.
Another 700 troops are receiving training in Uganda.


6. (S) Describing the TFG as in "great financial stress,"
President Sharif said the TFG owes USD 700,000 in medical
bills in Nairobi, that TFG soldiers had not been paid for
four months, and that there is no money for the salaries of
Parliamentarians or some Ministers. Foreign Affairs Minister
Jangali added that the TFG is counting on a European Union
promise of budget support. He said the TFG needs about USD
9-10 million per month and that the EU is prepared to provide
USD 6 million. The remainder will come from within Somalia,
although the security situation renders it difficult to raise
money domestically. Jangali asked the U.S. to speak to the
EU about the proposed budget support, and said that the TFG
is missing immediate opportunities to obtain the support of
the Somali people, the international community, and other
African governments due to lack of funds. Assistant
Secretary Carson said the U.S. would follow up with the EU
and its foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, through our
Mission in Brussels this week.

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TFG Military Effectiveness: We Need More Money
-------------- -


7. (S) President Sharif expressed confidence that with
additional equipment the Somali army would prevail over
poorly armed enemy forces. He urged the international
community to support AMISOM and the TFG in tandem so that the
two forces could work together. Sharif described the
difference in capabilities between AMISOM and the TFG as huge
and said that, in comparison, the TFG has but a fraction of
what AMISOM possesses. He said the TFG wants to go on the
offensive in cities it controls but cannot due to lack of
capability. He warned that the relatively equal strength
levels of the TFG and enemy forces only prolonged the
suffering of the Somali people and, if ignored, would
exacerbate the situation.

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Public Perceptions of AMISOM
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8. (S) President Sharif said the Somali public supports
AMISOM and acknowledged with gratitude that AMISOM forces
have suffered casualties to save Somalia. He said
catastrophe would follow were AMISOM to suddenly withdraw.
He also warned that AMISOM and the international community
need to find a way for AMISOM to respond to enemy
provocation. Sharif reported that the AU's Commissioner for
Peace and Security had told him that AMISOM's mandate allows
it to attack enemy enclaves, and that AMISOM troops have
recently begun retaliating - a move supported by the TFG.
Sharif said if AMISOM doesn't retaliate, the enemy will claim
that AMISOM cannot protect civilians. He said the local
population would welcome an offensive by AMISOM. President
Sharif also reported that both Burundi and Uganda are willing
to increase their assistance to AMISOM but need logistical
support to do so.

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International Assistance: Promises, Promises
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9. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson asked President Sharif if
the TFG has received assistance from Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
other Gulf or Middle Eastern states, or the Arab League.
Sharif said some governments have made promises but so far
nothing has materialized. He asked the U.S. to pressure
other governments to live up to their commitments. Foreign
Minister Jangali said Italy is one of the few countries that
has fulfilled its promise to the TFG. Assistant Secretary
Carson said the U.S. has and will continue to pressure states
that have promised to support the TFG to honor these
commitments. He promised to take up this issue with Egypt's
senior leadership and the Arab League while in Cairo this
week, and urged the TFG to continue to push partners to live
up to their commitments.

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Kenya, Egypt and Eritrea
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10. (S) President Sharif said he shared U.S. concerns about
Kenyan plans to create a buffer Jubaland force. He described
the introduction of any forces outside of TFG control as an
unwelcome development. He also agreed that recruitment of
potential TFG soldiers should not occur within the UN's
Dadaab refugee camp in northeast Kenya as this would
politicize refugee camps and undermine the UN's ability to
manage them. Sharif said he has already spoken to the
relevant people to ensure no recruitment occurs within the
camp.


11. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson said he was going to Cairo
via Nairobi and asked Sharif if the Egyptians are playing a
useful role, or doing things that were unhelpful. Sharif
said Egypt's support is crucial for the TFG and that it is
difficult for him to say definitively whether Egypt is
playing a constructive role. He expressed concern about a
recent exchange of visitors between Egypt and Eritrea. He
said he spoke with the Egyptian Minister of Social Affairs
during the October 19-23 AU Summit in Kampala and expressed a
desire to visit Cairo to discuss these issues. Sharif said
the TFG needs U.S. support vis-a-vis Egypt.


12. (S) President Sharif raised reports of the capture of two
Eritrean operatives along the Somali-Kenyan border. He said
these individuals are now in Kenya and suggested taking
advantage of this development to promote sanctions against
Eritrea and convince those still sympathetic to Eritrea that
the Eritreans are indeed involved in "dirty business" in
Somalia. Assistant Secretary Carson said the U.S. is aware
of just one Eritrean in Kenyan custody but said he would
raise this issue in Nairobi.

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Continued U.S. Support
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13. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson assured President Sharif
that the U.S. stands behind the TFG. He said the U.S. will
continue to provide support both directly and through Uganda
and Burundi. The Assistant Secretary also said the U.S.
would follow up with Egypt, the Arab League, and the EU
regarding specific promises of support, and will continue to
pressure states to honor their commitments to the TFG.
LANIER