SOMALIA - President Address Parliament; Five Legislators

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001638

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PINR SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - President Address Parliament; Five Legislators
Expelled


1. (SBU) Summary: On July 27, the Transitional Federal Parliament
re-convened for the first time since fighting broke out in Mogadishu
at the beginning of May. TFG President Sharif addressed the
legislative body in the Banadir region administrative headquarters
in Mogadishu. Sharif stressed that despite their best efforts,
anti-government groups have failed to overthrow his government and
that the TFG has made notable political and military progress. He
praised Somalia's armed forces for their commitment and Ahlu Sunna
Wal Jama'a (ASWJ) for its fight against al-Shabaab in the central
regions. During the session, the legislators voted to dismiss five
MPs for absenteeism and "anti-national" behavior in violation of the
Transitional Federal Charter. Another forty-nine MPs have been put
on notice that they must return to Mogadishu within twenty days or
be dismissed, as well. After President Sharif's departure, but while
Parliament was still in session, several mortars were fired at the
meeting location. No injuries were reported. End summary.

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Parliament Re-Convenes
in New Headquarters
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2. (SBU) On July 27, 301 of the estimated 350 TFG parliamentarians
in Mogadishu re-convened for the first time since fighting broke out
in Mogadishu at the beginning of May. The body met at the Banadir
region administration headquarters in the Hamar-weyne district of
Mogadishu. (From February to May, Parliament had met in the police
transport headquarters in Abdiaziz district, which subsequently came
under fire several times by anti-government groups. The Speaker
told the media that the venue was changed because the police
headquarters was old and lacked basic amenities, and not because of
security concerns.)

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President Sharif
Addresses Lawmakers
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3. (SBU) During the session, TFG President Sheikh Sharif addressed
the MPs, telling them that anti-government groups have failed to
overthrow the government despite their best efforts. He listed the
TFG's notable political and military achievements. He praised
Somalia's armed forces for their commitment and Ahlu Sunna Wal
Jama'a (ASWJ) for its fight against al-Shabaab in the central
regions. Sharif also lauded AMISOM's efforts and said that an
additional four thousand troops will be arriving soon from Uganda,
Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.


4. (SBU) Sharif left Parliament soon after finishing his speech.
Shortly thereafter, several mortars were fired at the parliament
building, causing the MPs to disperse. No injuries were reported.

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Speaker Dismisses Five MPs
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5. (SBU) During the session, the Parliament, chaired by Speaker Adan
Mohammed Nur "Madobe," resolved to dismiss five of its deputies.
"Madobe" said the dismissed members had violated the federal
parliament's regulations and the Transitional Federal Charter. (In
a subsequent interview, "Madobe" said that those dismissed had
failed to attend consecutive sessions of Parliament for more than
four months. He also implied that some of the MPs had violated the
Charter by engaging in "anti-national" behavior.) Media reports
indicate that "Madobe" stated, "These honorable members of
Parliament have broken the laws of the federal government and we
have decided to dismiss them, bearing in mind the current situation
of the country and how they have been behaving." Some critics
subsequently alleged that "Madobe" had singled out only those MPs
who had publicly criticized him, and that many other absent MPs
remained in office.


6. (SBU) The dismissed Members of Parliament are:

-- Ismail Hurreh "Bubah" (Isaak): former Minister of Foreign
Affairs under former Prime Minister Gedi;

-- Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed "Madobe" (Ogaden): the former Islamic
Court administration official in Kismaayo who has NOW joined Hisbul
Islam;

-- Ali Bashi Haji Mohamud (Darod/Dublahante): a long-time active

NAIROBI 00001638 002.3 OF 002


MP;

-- Ahmed Abdullahi Jama (Isaak);

-- Abdallah Haji Ali (Isaak): both Jama and Ali resigned on July 18
and returned to Somaliland. (Note: When Ali, a former Mayor of
Berbera, returned to Somaliland on July 18, he was briefly detained
by the Somaliland authorities for his activities in the TFG.).

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Forty-Nine Others
Warned
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7. (SBU) In addition to those who were dismissed, forty-nine other
MPs, including former Prime Ministers Ali Gedi and Hassan Abshire,
have been cited for absenteeism. The parliament secretary has
reportedly issued warning letters to them and asked them to come to
Mogadishu within twenty days or risk being expelled.


8. (SBU) Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya, Mohammed Nur "Americo," who
returned from several days in Mogadishu on July 28, told Somalia
Unit July 29 that Prime Minister Sharmarke, President Sharif, and
Speaker "Madobe" have agreed to issue a letter over their signature
that would request that the Government of Kenya revoke the visas of
those MPs resident in Nairobi from among the list of forty-nine.
"Americo" said he would present the letter, once received, to GOK
Foreign Minister Wetangula. (Note: it is unlikely that the GOK
would act energetically to remove the targeted MPs from Kenya.)


9. (SBU) In an interview following the July 27 session of
Parliament, Speaker "Madobe" defended the decision to unseat the
five MPs as having been taken in conformance with the Transitional
Federal Charter. (Note: According to the Charter, if an MP is not
present for four consecutive months of parliamentary sessions, s/he
can be forced to relinquish his/her seat.) "Madobe" singled out
former Foreign Minister "Bubah" for never having attended a session
of Parliament and for having engaged in anti-national behavior.
Former Prime Minister Ali Gedi, "Madobe" noted, had not attended a
session since having ceased to be Prime Minister in November 2007.
(Note: Gedi, and a group of MPs allied with him, have lobbied to
have the Parliament re-locate to the safer precincts of Garowe
(Puntland) or Hargeisa (Somaliland) Unlike "Bubah," who was
expelled, Gedi was only warned by Parliament.)

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Comment
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10. (SBU) The expulsion of five MPs, and the warning issued to the
forty-nine others, follows the TFG's decision to stop paying the
salaries of MPs who have not been in Mogadishu for sessions of
Parliament. In his interview, "Madobe" brushed aside suggestions
that the MPs could not remain in Mogadishu because of the danger,
noting that "it is not fair that some (MPs) stay in the country to
share the difficulties and problems with their people while others
continue to spread propaganda against their government (from outside
Somalia)." The TFG leadership's decision to oust or put on notice
constant critics like "Bubah," Gedi, and Abshire reflects a growing
impatience both with absenteeism and with those attempting to
undermine an already weak government from within. Unfortunately,
the decision does not seem even-handed, as many other MPs have also
not attended sessions of Parliament for four months, and yet were
not sanctioned. "Madobe's" implication in the interview that an MP
can lose his seat for calling into question the unity of Somalia
does not seem to be borne out by a reading of the Transitional
Federal Charter. There are signs as well that President Sharif
(septel) is becoming increasingly impatient with TFG cabinet members
who are behaving like some of their counterparts in the Parliament.
RANNEBERGER