Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI1394
2009-07-06 16:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
SOMALIA - SPORADIC FIGHTING CONTINUES NEAR TFG
how-toVZCZCXRO1225 OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNR #1394 1871614 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061614Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0209 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001394
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PINR MARR PTER SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - SPORADIC FIGHTING CONTINUES NEAR TFG
HEADQUARTERS ON JULY 6
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001394
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PINR MARR PTER SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - SPORADIC FIGHTING CONTINUES NEAR TFG
HEADQUARTERS ON JULY 6
1. (SBU) Our contacts tell us sporadic fighting continued on
July 6 in the Karaan and Shibis districts of Mogadishu.
According to Somali Ambassador to KENYA Mohammed Nur, TFG
forces held their ground. Intelligence Chief Mohammed Sheikh
stated the TFG had plans to counter-attack, perhaps with help
from AMISOM.
2. (SBU) Al-Shabaab forces still occupied recently captured
areas between Behaani and the Global Hotel, parts of Leedo
near the old seaport and Marino. Importantly, these areas'
citizens are predominantly President Sheikh Sharif's
Hawiye/Abgal clansmen. Al-Shabaab's continued presence in
these areas suggests the President's own clan is unwilling or
powerless to evict al-Shabaab. Other contacts tell us TFG
commanders Musa Sude "Gamadhule," Indha Adde, and Police
Commissioner "Qeybdiid" were leading the fighting, but were
hampered by distrust of one another and poor coordination.
Qeybdiid denied there were tensions between the commanders,
but complained AMISOM was rationing ammunition too strictly
to the TFG.
3. (SBU) AMISOM forwarded to us reports that on July 7, 14
al-Shabaab were killed in fighting at the Sana'a junction,
southwest of Ba'aad Market. AMISOM also reported their
sources tell of low morale among both the al-Shabaab and TFG
forces, due to persistent fighting and problems re-supplying.
On two recent occasions TFG patrols interdicted al-Shabaab
movements of weapons, according to AMISOM. In one case 11
AK-47 rifles and 10 boxes of ammunition were found hidden
under relief aid bound for IDPs in Galgaduud. TFG officials
confiscated the weapons and ammunition, arrested two Abgal
businessmen associated with the shipment, then sent the
relief supplies on to their destination. The TFG continues
to investigate the incident.
4. (SBU) Separately, the TFG released pictures of the faces
of two purported foreign fighters killed in fighting July 1.
The photos give the fighters' identities as a Pakistani
"general" possibly involved in the murder of a nun in
Mogadishu in 2008, and an Eritrean "colonel." A third
photograph is of the corpse of Khalid bin Walid brigade
commander Abu Khalid, who comes from "Northeast Somalia"
according to the TFG.
RANNEBERGER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PINR MARR PTER SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - SPORADIC FIGHTING CONTINUES NEAR TFG
HEADQUARTERS ON JULY 6
1. (SBU) Our contacts tell us sporadic fighting continued on
July 6 in the Karaan and Shibis districts of Mogadishu.
According to Somali Ambassador to KENYA Mohammed Nur, TFG
forces held their ground. Intelligence Chief Mohammed Sheikh
stated the TFG had plans to counter-attack, perhaps with help
from AMISOM.
2. (SBU) Al-Shabaab forces still occupied recently captured
areas between Behaani and the Global Hotel, parts of Leedo
near the old seaport and Marino. Importantly, these areas'
citizens are predominantly President Sheikh Sharif's
Hawiye/Abgal clansmen. Al-Shabaab's continued presence in
these areas suggests the President's own clan is unwilling or
powerless to evict al-Shabaab. Other contacts tell us TFG
commanders Musa Sude "Gamadhule," Indha Adde, and Police
Commissioner "Qeybdiid" were leading the fighting, but were
hampered by distrust of one another and poor coordination.
Qeybdiid denied there were tensions between the commanders,
but complained AMISOM was rationing ammunition too strictly
to the TFG.
3. (SBU) AMISOM forwarded to us reports that on July 7, 14
al-Shabaab were killed in fighting at the Sana'a junction,
southwest of Ba'aad Market. AMISOM also reported their
sources tell of low morale among both the al-Shabaab and TFG
forces, due to persistent fighting and problems re-supplying.
On two recent occasions TFG patrols interdicted al-Shabaab
movements of weapons, according to AMISOM. In one case 11
AK-47 rifles and 10 boxes of ammunition were found hidden
under relief aid bound for IDPs in Galgaduud. TFG officials
confiscated the weapons and ammunition, arrested two Abgal
businessmen associated with the shipment, then sent the
relief supplies on to their destination. The TFG continues
to investigate the incident.
4. (SBU) Separately, the TFG released pictures of the faces
of two purported foreign fighters killed in fighting July 1.
The photos give the fighters' identities as a Pakistani
"general" possibly involved in the murder of a nun in
Mogadishu in 2008, and an Eritrean "colonel." A third
photograph is of the corpse of Khalid bin Walid brigade
commander Abu Khalid, who comes from "Northeast Somalia"
according to the TFG.
RANNEBERGER