SOMALIA - AL-SHABAAB RAIDS UN COMPOUNDS IN WAJID

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001551 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2019 TAGS: EAID PTER MOPS PREL SOCI SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - AL-SHABAAB RAIDS UN COMPOUNDS IN WAJID AND BAIDOA; ORDERS SOME UN AGENCIES CLOSED REF: NAIROBI 1550 Classified By: Somalia Unit Counselor Bob Patterson. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Summary: UNPOS Deputy Charles Petrie confirmed early evening July 20 that al-Shabaab had declared that UNDP, UNDSS, and UNPOS must immediately close their offices in Somalia and were declared "enemies of Islam and Muslims." Triggering the decision, according to an announcement released by al-Shabaab's "Department of Political Affairs and Regional Administrations," were the UN agencies' support for the TFG and AMISOM, including money pledged to AMISOM under UN auspices at the April 22 - 23 ICG in Brussels. Petrie reported that the announcement had been accompanied by the invasion of UN compounds in Wajid (Bakool region) and Baidoa (Bay Region). Significantly, WFP was not included in the al-Shabaab ban, although the forced departure of the UN security officer in Baidoa, per UN regulation, should trigger WFP's departure, as well. WFP-managed activities by local partners should not be affected by al-Shabaab's decree. All UN personnel had departed the Baidoa compound as of 1630 (local),Petrie said. (Embassy does not believe there were any international staff present in either Wajid or Baidoa.) It is possible that al-Shabaab's abrupt decision was triggered by negotiations, reportedly headed by former al-Shabaab Spokesman Mukhtar Robow, for the release of the three Action Against Hunger employees kidnapped in Mandera, Kenya, on July 17 (reftel). End summary. ¶2. (C) UNPOS Deputy Charles Petrie told Somalia Unit mid afternoon July 20 that UN compounds in Wajid (Bakool Region) and Baidoa (Bay Region) had been invaded by al-Shabaab. In Wajid, they had confiscated the communications equipment, several automobiles, and supplies. UN offices in Baidoa had reportedly been looted, and at least some of the equipment damaged or destroyed. ¶3. (SBU) At about the same time as the looting of the compounds, al-Shabaab's "Department of Political Affairs and Regional Administrations" issued a press release (e-mailed to AF/E) that ordered all NGOs and foreign agencies in Somalia to immediately contact a newly-established al-Shabaab "Office for Supervising the Affairs of Foreign Agencies," whose address would be provided by the regional administration in the area where the foreign entities are operating. Any NGO or foreign agency working "against the Somali Muslim population and/or against the establishment of an Islamic State will be immediately closed and dealt with according to the evidence found." ¶4. (SBU) The press release also confirmed the closure of UN organizations which are "enemies of Islam and Muslims": UNDP, UNDSS, and UNPOS. They had been found to be providing "training and support for the apostate government and the training of its troops." They were as well guilty as charged of having raised USD 250 million at the April 22 - 23 Brussels International Contact Group (ICG) meeting for the "crusader AMISOM troops." ¶5. (SBU) The press release concluded by recalling the closure of CARE and IMC, "two American agencies," who had spied "for and aided the intelligence agencies of the enemies of Islam," in addition to assisting "in the assassination of Sheikh Maalim Adam Aayrow." ¶6. (C) Petrie reported early evening July 20 that remaining national UN national employees had already left the compounds in Baidoa and Wajid. (There were reportedly no international employees present.) Although WFP was not among the agencies closed by al-Shabaab, UN regulations should not allow it to operate without the presence of UN security personnel. WFP's departure would eliminate the monitoring of food distributions conducted by local NGO partners, but not the distributions themselves. Also likely effected would be UNOPS and UNICEF. ¶7. (C) According to Petrie, al-Shabaab had signaled its intentions about one month ago. Petrie speculated that al-Shabaab's decision to move to enforcement on July 20 may have been triggered by July 17 abduction of three Action Against Hunger (AAH) employees in Mandera, Kenya (reftel). He thought it possible that former al-Shabaab Spokesman Mukhtar Robow's reported efforts to effect the release of the AAH employees in Baidoa may have crystallized efforts by al-Shabaab hardliners to shut down UN organizations that had worked with the TFG and, if so, were evidence that Robow's influence was in decline. Petrie noted that Al-Shabaab leader and hardliner Ahmed Abdi Godane was also chief of the al-Shabaab Shura for Bay and Bakool regions, and could easily make his will there felt. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Embassy will canvass UN colleagues over the next few days to find out what practical effect al-Shabaab's action will have on the delivery of humanitarian aid and other work by UN agencies in Somalia. With many of them having already cut their national staffs to the minimum throughout much of Somalia, the answer may be "not much." If multiple reports that Robow was attempting to effect the release of the three AAH employees, one Amcit among them, are true, then today's action by al-Shabaab probably brings that effort to an end as well. ABELL