SOMALIA - GALCAIO ASSASSINATION LIKELY RESULT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001691

NOFORN
SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - GALCAIO ASSASSINATION LIKELY RESULT OF
INTRA-CLAN TENSIONS

Classified By: Somalia Unit PolOff Joe Trimble for reasons 1.4(b) and (
d)


1. Summary. (C//NF) Despite a government statement to the
contrary, our contacts tell us the August 5 assassination of
the Information Minister of the semi-autonomous region of
Puntland was most likely an act of clan retribution.
Long-standing intra-Majerteen tensions escalated in recent
days with checkpoint clashes outside of Galcaio town in Mudug
region. The Minister, a Bid'idyahan clansman who was known to
travel without security, apparently served as a high profile
target of Darod/Majerteen/Omar Mahamud/Khalaf retribution.
End Summary.


2. (C//NF) Puntland Minister of Information Warsame Abdi
Shirwa, known as "Sefta Bananka," was killed on August 5 in
Galcaio town in Mudug region. Our contacts tell us four
gunmen walked into a coffee shop in the center of town which
was known to be frequented by Puntland government officials.
The gunmen remain at large. Shirwa was reportedly part of an
advance team laying the political groundwork for an upcoming
visit by Puntland President Abdirahman Mohammed Mohamud
"Faroole" to Galcaio. Galcaio's loyalty is split between
south-central Somalia and Puntland. Northern Galcaio is
considered part of Puntland while southern Galcaio is part of
south-central Somalia. Support for President "Faroole," even
in northern Galcaio, is very limited. "Faroole" on August 6th
attended Shirwa's funeral in Galcaio.


3. (C//NF) Several of our Puntland contacts tell us the
killing was an act of clan retribution by the
Darod/Majerteen/Omar Mohamud/Khalaf against Shirwa's
Majerteen/Bi'idyahan. (Note: The Omar Mohamud/Khalaf and
Bi'idyahan relationship has long been marked by periodic
clashes driven by competition over water wells. End Note.) A
Khalaf clansmen was reportedly killed last week when the
Mudug regional governor's security detail attempted to
dismantle a Bi'idyahan checkpoint near Galcaio. The Khalaf
man, who was part of the governor's security detail, was
killed by a Bi'idyahan. Our contacts tell us Shirwa, a
Bi'idyahan, was known as the only Puntland Minister who never
traveled with security and, therefore, served as an easy
target for Khalaf gunmen.


4. (C//NF) Comment. Shirwa was a vocal opponent of al-Shabaab
activities in the area and an initial statement from the
Puntland government claims al-Shabaab was involved in the
assassination. While we can not rule out al-Shabaab
involvement, we also should not rule out the possibility
"Faroole" would attempt to paint his subclan rivals in
Galcaio with a terrorist brush. End Comment.
RANNEBERGER