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

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Summary
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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.

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Population is Triple
Planned Capacity
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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.

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It's Not Our Fault
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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.

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Take Over,
or Hands Off
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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.

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The Current TFG Administration
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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.

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Comment
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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