Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI116
2009-01-21 13:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

SOMALIA - Community Resistance Against Al-Shabaab

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR EAID SO 
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INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 0349
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 000116 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EAID SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - Community Resistance Against Al-Shabaab

REF: A) 08 Nairobi 2900 B) Nairobi 107

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 000116

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EAID SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - Community Resistance Against Al-Shabaab

REF: A) 08 Nairobi 2900 B) Nairobi 107


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Local residents and militias in Galgaduud Region
are bracing for an al-Shabaab reprisal attack to recapture the towns
of Guriel and Dhusamareb. Between December 27 and 30, a
community-based resistance movement defeated al-Shabaab in battles
that killed several top commanders of the insurgent group (Ref A).
On January 16, key leaders from Galgaduud told us that elders and
religious leaders mobilized militias to counter the al-Shabaab
threat. These community based armed groups maintain control over
Guriel and Dusamareb. The leaders appealed for urgent humanitarian
assistance for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
outside the towns where clashes occurred. They also requested
financial support to avert an imminent al-Shabaab counter attack.
The moderate group Ahlu Sunna wal Jama'a (ASWJ) continues to rally
support against al-Shabaab in both Galgaduud and Mogadishu.
Communities continue to rally behind the ASWJ moniker, though the
group itself does not claim to have a fighting force. The
Mogadishu-based ASWJ spokesman told us the network of religious
scholars and their adherents are seeking partnerships with the U.S.
to fight al-Shabaab and violent extremism. The influence of ASWJ
religious leaders continues to be credited with playing a key role
in maintaining the peace in Somalia's capital and to subverting
al-Shabaab's strategy to tighten the noose on Mogadishu by
controlling surrounding regions. End Summary.

Victory Over al-Shabaab Threatened
--------------


2. (SBU) Community-based militias in Galgaduud Region continue to
control the towns of Guriel and Dhusamareb after a decisive victory
in over al-Shabaab between December 27 and 30 (Ref A). During the
battles, several al-Shabaab top commanders were killed and now the
communities fear reprisal attacks. Some the al-Shabaab commanders
reportedly killed in the clashes include General Mohamed Yusuf Nur
(Hawiye/Sheikhal),commander in chief, Mohamed Said "Tima
Jilaa"(Hawiye/Murasade),chief of staff, Abdullahi "Fanah"
(Darod/Ogadeni),field commander and trainer, Kanja Waweru
"Seyfulaah al-Kiywaani" (Kenyan),and Ruben Shumpert "Amir Abdul
Muhaimeen" (American). According to multiple sources, al-Shabaab is

in the process of re-organizing and training in El Bur, also in
Galgaduud Region, to launch a counter-offensive in Guriel and
Dhusamareb.


3. (SBU) On January 16, we met with key Galgaduud political leaders
including General Mohamed Nuur Galaal, Acting Chairman of the Ayr
political committee and a well-respected military general under Siad
Barre. Galaal served as a military commander in the Transitional
National Government (TNG) and presidential security advisor to the
TNG president. One of the other representatives was Salad Osman,
member of the Ayr political committee and former minister and MP
within the TNG Somali politician in pre-1991 government where he
served as a member of parliament for 12 years. The Hawiye/Haber
Gedir/Ayr leaders told us the decisive victories in Guriel and
Dhusamareb over al-Shabaab were won by a combined force of Ayr
militias belonging to former clan administrations, and youth
recruited from surrounding rural areas. They estimated that
approximately 500 militia fought against al-Shabaab in Dhusamareb
and another 800 in Guriel where fighting was most intense.


4. (SBU) According to the Ayr leaders, the popular uprising
occurred after local ASWJ clerics and clan elders agreed to fight
against al-Shabaab's targeted violence and its imposition of
"foreign teachings and non-Somali Islamic traditions" on the
community. The community resistance was precipitated by
al-Shabaab's forceful expulsion of local administrations formed by
resident communities. They told us the militias were stood up after
elders urgently appealed to local youth and the "camel herders" who
are "natural warriors and fighters for hire." However, the
representatives stressed to us that the forces were not formally
organized and they have no means for sustainment. While at present
these militias continue to control Guriel and Dhusamareb, they said
that without outside support "it is a matter of time before
al-Shabaab attacks and moves back in."

Appeal for Humanitarian Aid,
Immediate Response
--------------


5. (SBU) While the armed militias are in the towns, most of the

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residents have fled into neighboring rural areas. The clashes in
Galgaduud produced thousands of IDPs. They told us that those who
were displaced from their homes live in squalid conditions in the
outskirts of the towns and that the majority of the people in
Galgaduud region are those who came to the region in an attempt to
escape from violence in Mogadishu. With the recent round of
violence, they are displaced from their homes yet again. The
community leaders appealed to us for urgent humanitarian assistance
for these IDPs. They told us that since al-Shabaab was forced to
flee the area, they are in the position (at least in the near term)
to ensure access for and urgent aid delivery. This humanitarian
relief will restore hope and trust in the new local administrations
formed in Dusamareb and Guriel, they said.


6. (SBU) We followed up with the World Food Program (WFP) to
encourage the relief organization to address the needs of this
community. The WFP representative told us that their information
indicates that the majority of the IDPs
went back to their homes in Dusamareb and Guriel. WFP is targeting
the two towns because of the ongoing humanitarian emergency, as
defined by the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU). At present, a
double ration of food is on its way to both towns targeting over
48,000 recipients in Gueril and over 51,648 in Dusamareb. We
contacted the Ayr leaders to inform them of the upcoming delivery,
and they expressed deep appreciation for U.S. efforts in the region.


Moderate Islamic Network Keeping Peace
--------------


7. (SBU) The victories in Dhusamareb were attributed to the moderate
ASWJ group. ASWJ is the name adopted by members of the Sufi sect
promoting the moderate brand of Islam to which a majority of Somalis
belong. It is not a fighting force, but a network that has been
instrumental in recent community uprisings against al-Shabaab.
(Note: Reftel discusses our recent engagement with the group). On
January 17, we talked with the Mogadishu-based ASWJ executive
committee who confirmed to us that theirs is not an armed group. In
recent weeks, a number of groups, including the community-based
militias in Galgaduud and Gedo regions claimed to be fighting
against al-Shabaab in the name of ASWJ. Widely reported media
stories have linked al-Shabaab loses to ASWJ). Following these
claims, ASWJ issued a public statement to clarify that it is not a
fighting force but does advocate for the return to traditional
religious practice.


8. (SBU) Sheikh Abdiqadir Somow, ASWJ Spokesman and acting chairman
told us that ASWJ opposes al-Shabaab because of their "corrupt" view
of Islam and oppressive ways and that ASWJ is willing to defend a
"Somali" brand of Islam at all costs. Somow said ASWJ will continue
to condemn al-Shabaab, sensitizing local communities about the risks
of involvement with the insurgent group. Sheikh Somow told us that
ASWJ is composed of 250 central and 13 executive committee members
and its adherents represent 95 percent of Somalia's population. In
recent weeks, many groups, both unarmed and armed, have identified
themselves with ASWJ and Somow aid they are doing their best to
positively channel the momentum behind this sentiment.

Engaging the Djibouti Process
--------------


9. (SBU) Sheikh Somow told us their clerics have been deeply engaged
in raising public awareness and support for peace in Mogadishu (Ref
B). He requested partnership with the US Government and financial
support to further enable the network to counter al-Shabaab and its
negative influence. He said ASWJ intends to intensify anti-violence
messages in mosques, public gatherings and through the media but are
faced with resource constraints. When we asked about ASWJ's
relationship with the Djibouti process, Somow said they welcomed
Sheikh Sharif when he returned to Mogadishu and urged followers to
peacefully engage with the ARS leader. Somow told us he personally
mobilized community support for the Djibouti agreement, though many
do not see its application at the local level.


10. (SBU) We also asked the representatives from Dhusamareb about
the Djibouti process and they initially responded that for them, the
Djibouti process is positive, but is not grounded in the daily
realities on the ground. While there are representatives
participating in the discussions from the region, they are removed
from the present dangers in Dusamareb and Guriel. At the same time,

NAIROBI 00000116 003 OF 003


they highlighted that al-Shabaab's defeat prevented the group from
gaining influence, thus opening space for dialogue and
reconciliation. In a January 19 conversation with Deputy Prime
Minister Ahmed Abdisalam Adan, he told us that he has been in close
contact with the community leaders in Dusamareb and Guriel and is
planning to stand up a local joint security sub-committee in each of
the communities that will interface with other local and regional
sub-committees, eventually coordinating with the Joint Security
Committee.

Comment
--------------


11. (SBU) The recent community-level engagement to combat
al-Shabaab in Galgaduud and efforts secure peace in Mogadishu by
ASWJ and others is promising. However, all of our interlocutors
emphasized the tenuous nature of this peace and some expect that it
might be the calm before a storm. They all warned that al-Shabaab
is preparing to strike back, and though their general position may
be weakened in the wake of the ongoing Ethiopian withdrawal, many
asserted that the insurgent group has the resources to launch a
considerable attack. In Mogadishu, however, our contacts told us
that al-Shabaab has weak footing. After a recent strike on AMISOM,
community leaders warned that they would deal directly with anyone
launching an attack against the African mission, stating clearly
that AMISOM forces do not equate to Ethiopian forces. Post will
continue to engage with ASWJ and other community-based groups.

RANNEBERGER