Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI1444
2009-07-08 15:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

SOMALIA - JUBA RESISTANCE MOVEMENT WANTS TO

Tags:  PGOV MOPS PTER PMAR SO 
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FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0271
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001444 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PTER PMAR SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - JUBA RESISTANCE MOVEMENT WANTS TO
COORDINATE WITH THE TFG

Classified By: Pol Counselor Bob Patterson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001444

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PTER PMAR SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - JUBA RESISTANCE MOVEMENT WANTS TO
COORDINATE WITH THE TFG

Classified By: Pol Counselor Bob Patterson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) On July 7 we met with Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) parliamentarian and Juba Resistance Movement
(JRM) leader Mohammed Amin Osman. (Note:The JRM is a loose
alliance of local leaders in the Jubas who advocate for the
creation of a local Jubaland administration and claim to be
able to galvanize various subclan militia against the
al-Shabaab. End note.) Osman, a useful, long-time Somalia
Unit and USAID contact, briefed us on JRM's efforts to
organize a military force to challenge al-Shabaab and the Ras
Kamboni group. (Note: The Ras Kamboni group, led by Hassan
al-Turki, is allied with Hisbul-Islam and working to
overthrow the TFG. End note.) Osman explained that
dissatisfaction with Muslim extremists was rising in Middle
and Lower Juba regions, prompting several clan militia
commanders to volunteer to fight al-Shabaab. We will report
the commanders names and their clans when available.


2. (C) Osman said the JRM and TFG leaders, including Defense
Minister Ghandi, Finance Minister Sheikh Hassan, and late
Security Minister Omar Hashi have discussed military
coordination in the past, but those talks had broken down
over the TFG's efforts to appoint TFG administrations in the
Jubas and TFG interest in bringing Ras Kamboni commander
Ibrahim Shukri into the government. (Note: The JRM political
agenda includes forming popularly chosen administrations. TFG
efforts to install administrators from Mogadishu, some of
whom have worked closely with Ethiopia in the past, were a
clear source of frustration for Osman. He was skeptical
about working with Shukri, even though Shukri is reportedly
willing to defect from the Ras Kamboni group and challenge
al-Shabaab with his powerful Darood/Mohamed Zubeir militia.
The Mohamed Zubeir are currently the most militarily powerful
subclan in the region. End Note). Nonetheless, the JRM
believes cooperation with the TFG is necessary to defeat
al-Shabaab. He said he is asking the AU, the UN Political
Office for Somalia, the Kenyan government, the UK High
Commission and Post to press the TFG to coordinate with the
JRM.


3. (C) Oman told us JRM allied militias had successfully
sparred with al-Shabaab in recent months, costing al-Shabaab
influence in the regions' rural areas and causing al-Shabaab
to seek a truce. Osman said JRM military commanders have
small 30-40-man standing militias but clan leaders can
deliver hundreds more when needed.


4. (C) Comment: We will continue to gather information on
the JRM, its capabilities, goals, and its relations with the
TFG and other leaders willing to confront al-Shabaab in the
Jubas. End Comment.





SLUTZ