SOMALIA - DADAAB REFUGEES' VIEWS ON U.S. POLICY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001033

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 U.S. POLICY

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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 mostly Somali refugees, espoused a wide range of both
positive and negative views on the U.S. government's involvement in
Somalia. In general, most were grateful for U.S. aid to the camp,
but many felt the United States was at least partially responsible
for the turmoil in Somalia, and believed the United States could,
given political will, quickly neutralize the extremists who continue
to impede Somalia's progress toward peace and stability. The
refugees' views on Somalia's future 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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Surprise at U.S. Focus
on Somalia
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3. (SBU) Many refugee groups with whom we spoke were unaware of the
existence of the Somalia Unit in Nairobi, and expressed surprise and
pleasure that the Department of State had personnel dedicated to
diplomatic relations with Somalia. A community leader in Hagadera
said the creation of the Somalia Unit "symbolizes great progress" in
U.S. involvement in Somalia. Many of the refugees were very
appreciative of the visit, noting that our effort to interact with
them symbolized our recognition of the refugees' importance in the
present and future well-being of their country. A female community
leader in Ifo claimed no one had ever asked the refugees for their
opinion before, and thanked us for making the visit. A female
member of a drama group in Dagahaley camp said she was honored by
our visit, that it had "rekindled her spirit" and that the visit was
a huge boost to her morale. However, one community leader in
Dagahaley said the United States should do only public affairs and
humanitarian work in the camp, and leave discussions of Somali
politics to the Somalis.


4. (SBU) Although the refugees were often unaware of the U.S.
government's work through the Somalia Unit, nearly all with whom we
spoke were aware of the U.S. aid to the camps, and express gratitude
to us. A contact from the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told us that when the refugees
were told that the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama was related to a
recent temporary cut in their rations, they were disappointed and
embarrassed that fellow Somalis had inflicted even more hardship on
them in the camps. A Community Peace and Security Team (CPST)
member in Ifo camp cited the donation, with funding from the Bureau
of Populations, Refugees, and Migrants (PRM) via Lutheran World
Federation, of bicycles, boots and reflective vests - one CPST
member wore his reflective vest to our early morning meeting - for
CPST patrols in the camp as evidence of positive U.S. involvement in
the camps. Finally, several refugees acknowledged that the United
States accepts the largest number of Dadaab refugees on a yearly
basis.

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U.S. Caused This
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5. (SBU) Many refugees with whom we spoke claimed that the U.S.
government was behind much of the turmoil that has plagued Somalia

NAIROBI 00001033 002 OF 002


for the past 18 years. In one especially frank exchange, a
community action leader in Ifo camp claimed Somalis would not be
fighting were it not for the United States and other outside parties
perpetuating the conflict in Somalia. Continuing, he said that the
United States in recent years "left no stone unturned to destroy
Somalia" and claimed some Somali males felt compelled to shave their
beards to avoid being labeled as terrorists.

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U.S. Can Fix This
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6. (SBU) While many of the refugees blamed the U.S. government for
the troubles of Somalis, many stated that they believed the United
States could, given sufficient political will, neutralize the
extremist elements who continue to cause political instability in
the country. Another community leader in Ifo camp said the United
States could expel the troublemakers, "just like in Bosnia." The
leader of a youth empowerment initiative in Ifo camp told us
refugees' views on acceptable U.S. interventions in Somalia ranged
from invasion and re-colonization to a complete disengagement,
leaving Somalis to fend for themselves. A Dagahaley community
leader believed the United States had destroyed Somalia, but that
the role of the world's remaining superpower was "not only to
destroy, but rebuild."

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Comment
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7. (SBU) Septel will review several opportunities for further public
diplomacy engagement with this large population of Somalis. The
simple act of making ourselves available to several groups of these
refugees over three days afforded us significant inroads. Further,
concerted engagement with this population will likely allow us to
repair some misconceptions about U.S. policy toward Somalia, and the
fact that the audience is in regular contact with Somalis inside
Somalia will give any public diplomacy engagement an exponential
impact. End comment.

RANNEBERGER