SOMALIA - DADAAB REFUGEES' VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001031 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E, A/S CARSON AND PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF KPAO SO KE SUBJECT: SOMALIA - DADAAB REFUGEES' VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The residents of Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp, home to more than 270,000 refugees, the vast majority of whom are Somali, were bitter about the last 18 years of disorder in Somalia but generally optimistic about rebuilding the country. However, the refugees were divided on the cause of the chaos. In addition, views on the way forward ranged from re-colonization to a complete laissez faire policy. The refugees' views on U.S. policy in Somalia and opportunities for U.S. engagement with the refugees will be discussed in septels. End summary. -------------- Population is Triple Planned Capacity -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A Somalia Unit officer, accompanied by a visiting AF/PDPA officer, traveled to Dadaab refugee camp from May 11-13 to survey the views of the refugees regarding U.S. policy toward Somalia, the current and future political prospects for Somalia, and opportunities for public diplomacy engagement with the refugees. The Dadaab refugee camp is in fact three separate camps - Ifo, Dagahaley, and Hagadera - and is located approximately 80 kilometers from the border with Somalia in Kenya's Northeast Province. The camp was created in 1991 with capacity for 90,000 refugees. The camp currently houses over 270,000 registered refugees, with more arriving daily in spite of the official closure of the Kenya-Somalia border. -------------- It's Not Our Fault -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Among the parties who claimed Somalis are not the cause of the ongoing instability were community self-management leaders in Ifo camp. One of the leaders claimed the 20 years of conflict was generated by outside forces, including "Arabs, Africans, Europeans, and Americans." Another leader ended his remarks about outsiders by saying, "May God destroy them because they destroy us." The same leader said that the arms used in the conflict are from "the outside," so the conflict is from the outside. Another Ifo leader called for sanctions on not only weapons but also food being brought into the country, since the food was being used as a tool by the elements hostile to peace in Somalia. ¶4. (SBU) Several of our contacts claimed that, contrary to the oft-stated belief that much of Somalia's conflict is clan-based, religion-based sects and ideologies are now to blame for the ongoing conflict. The facilitator of a youth empowerment program stated that the youth realize that their elders have participated in the ongoing conflict, and that they have developed a strong sense of peace and human rights. ¶5. (SBU) With regard to conflicts inside the camp, many of our interlocutors expressed a belief that newly-arrived refugees were still concerned with clan loyalties to a greater degree than those that had been at Dadaab for up to 18 years. The chairman of the Ifo camp's Community Peace and Security Team (CPST) noted that early arrivals to Dadaab were members of the deposed Marehan clan, referring to those associated with the Siad Barre regime, but later arrivals were associated with the clans that deposed Barre. As such, current feuds are symbolic of political feuds, but not clan rivalries. A Peace Education Officer in Ifo camp added that many conflicts in Dadaab are the result of family members of those wronged in Somalia seeking to avenge the slight that occurred at home, rather than resolving conflicts that originated in Dadaab. ¶6. (SBU) In at least four of our meetings over the three days, the refugees complained about lack of inclusion in the peace process. The principle the refugees espoused was that between the 270,000 in Dadaab and a possibly equal number in other areas of Kenya, the international community had failed to consult nearly a half million Somali refugees about their opinions. -------------- Take Over, or Hands Off -------------- NAIROBI 00001031 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Participants in a Dadaab-wide youth empowerment program have views ranging from advocacy for massive military intervention and re-colonization to a complete cessation of foreign intervention in Somalia. An elder in the Dagahaley drama group said the only solution is international control of Somalia, and one of the other members said the only solution is "not from within," but that the international community "must rally and capture the country by force." In contrast, a Community Self-Monitoring (CSM) group member in Dagahaley said that since external actors are causing the problems in Somalia, the country should be left to Somalis. At the same time, another member of the CSM said that if Somalia is left to its own devices, fighting will continue. A youth group leader in Dagahaley claimed that since the conflict is being caused from the outside the international community should neutralize the outside actors and then leave Somalia alone. -------------- The Current TFG Administration -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Ifo camp community leader cited above noted that there have been many governments in Somalia in the past two decades and implied that President Sharif is having similar difficulties, "though [the leader] pray[s] for success." The facilitator of the youth empowerment program reported that participants are positive and hopeful about the current leadership of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The drama group elder from Dagahaley appealed to the U.S. government to fully engage the TFG's new leaders in order to "save the future generation." Another member of the drama group, however, cast doubt on the current TFG administration, claiming that nothing has changed and that old troublemakers have "changed shirts" and methods, gaining a foothold in the TFG. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) During at least four of our meetings over three days, the refugees requested inclusion in the political process, including meetings and consultations. Rather than continuously advocating for resettlement in other countries, several of our interlocutors expressed a desire to return to Somalia and assist in the rebuilding process. Another refugee, a member of a youth sports program in Hagadera, told us that when he arrived in 1991, he worried about his future. 18 years later and having started his own family, he realized he was now worried about his child's future. The refugees are clearly concerned and as active as possible in the affairs of Somalia. Post will explore possibilities of involving Dadaab refugees in current events, whether inclusion in meetings or other increased efforts to reach out to the refugees, via vehicles like web chats and DVC conversations. RANNEBERGER