SOMALIA - A/S CARSON'S JULY 8 PHONE CONVERSATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001451

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MARR PINR SO UG
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - A/S CARSON'S JULY 8 PHONE CONVERSATION
WITH TFG PRESIDENT SHARIF

Classified By: Somalia Unit Counselor Bob Patterson. Reasons: 1.4 (b,
d).


1. (C) On July 8, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
Johnnie Carson telephoned Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) President Sharif at Sharif's request. Sharif
summarized his July 8 meeting with President Museveni in
Kampala. Museveni, he said, was "enthusiastic" about Somalia
and the TFG, and was willing to provide an additional 5000
troops, which would operate in the Somali south. Museveni
believed there were clear advantages to deploying a
significant number of troops from one country, and believed
that Ugandan troops would not trigger the strong reaction
that the deployment of Ethiopian troops to Somalia would.


2. (C) According to Sharif, Museveni said that Uganda would
need assistance to fund and equip the proposed troops, and
suggested that perhaps the USG could provide help in taking
advantage of this opportunity.


3. (C) A/S Carson told Sharif that Museveni's proposal would
have to be discussed in Washington. It would have to be seen
if the United Nations would be willing to take on the task of
funding and equipping the UPDF troops. A/S Carson promised
to contact Sharif following consultations.


4. (C) Sharif suggested that the UAE might be willing to fund
Museveni's proposal, and told A/S Carson that he might visit
the UAE on his next trip from Mogadishu. He asked A/S
Carson's assistance in exploring the possibility of
assistance from the UAE to the proposed Ugandan deployment.
A/S Carson agreed that the idea might be explored and
encouraged Sharif to make contact with the UAE if he believed
that assistance was possible.


5. (C) Sharif added that he planned to encourage Saudi Arabia
to provide funding to Uganda as well. He hoped that
Museveni's proposed intervention could provide the time for
the TFG to train its own forces in willing countries in the
region.


6. (C) Noting that A/S Carson was in Accra, Sharif wished
President Obama a successful visit to Ghana and hoped that
continued support from the USG would produce a success for
the Obama Administration in Somalia. Sharif told A/S Carson
that he would return directly to Mogadishu from Entebbe on
July 9.


7. (C) Comment: Sharif was cordial and excited about
Museveni's proposal, which he hoped would provide the TFG
with much-needed breathing room to improve its security
forces, which are under great al-Shabaab-led pressure in
Mogadishu.
SLUTZ