SOMALIA - URGENT NEED FOR FUNDING AS FIGHTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001108 SIPDIS DEPT FOR A/S CARSON, FOR AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019 TAGS: PGOV EAID PTER MOPS SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - URGENT NEED FOR FUNDING AS FIGHTING CONTINUES IN MOGADISHU REF: NAIROBI 1105 Classified By: Somalia Counselor Bob Patterson. Reasons: 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (C) As the TFG continues to fight designated Foreign Terrorist Organization al-Shabaab in Mogadishu, the appeals from President Sharif, Prime Minister Sharmarke, and TFG force commander "Dhumaal" for urgent funding to support their efforts have intensified. As reftel notes, in the last two days the TFG has succeeded in pushing al-Shabaab and other extremist forces opposing it out of key districts of the Somali capital. The TFG is eager to capitalize on its success, and to that end has been seeking additional ammunition and funding for its forces. Problems in rapidly transporting ammunition and weapons available from UPDF stocks at Entebbe have made the immediate provision of financial aid all the more critical. ¶2. (C) Embassy urges that the Department authorize a second tranche of USD 500 thousand in funding to the TFG. In Embassy's judgment, the initial tranche of USD 500 thousand, which the TFG has fully accounted for, made a key contribution to the success of the TFG's current counter-offensive. In addition to permitting it to pay its troops, and purchase weapons and ammunition, the funds provided concrete evidence of USG engagement in the efforts of the TFG to defeat al-Shabaab. ¶3. (C) Should the Department approve, the funds would be used to pay salaries and/or procure urgently needed support for fighting the extremists. The Embassy continues to prefer that in-kind assistance be provided to the TFG, but the rapidly-evolving security situation and the urgency of capitalizing on the TFG's fragile advantage in our view mandate that cash grant assistance be immediately provided. RANNEBERGER