SOMALIA - MYSTERY SHROUDS MURDER OF PAKISTANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001718 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019 TAGS: PTER PHUM PGOV SOCI MOPS SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - MYSTERY SHROUDS MURDER OF PAKISTANI CLERICS; RESIDENTS OFFER THEORIES REF: NAIROBI 1691 Classified By: Somalia Unit Counselor Bob Patterson for reasons 1.4(b,d ). ¶1. (C) Summary: The August 12 killing of 5 Pakistani clerics in Galcaio remains shrouded in mystery, but our contacts indicate Galcaio residents suspect the murders were the result of sectarian tensions or political competition between north and south Galcaio. (Note: Northern Galcaio is part of Puntland while southern Galcaio is considered part of south-central Somalia. End note.) The government of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, the administration in southern Galcaio, al-Shabaab, and Alhu Sunna Wal Jama'a (ASWJ) have denied any involvement and made statements condemning the murders. Our contacts tell us the most common theory offered by residents in Galcaio is that ASWJ killed the clerics because ASWJ suspected the Pakistanis of supporting al-Shabaab. Our contacts say most residents in Galcaio think the Pakistanis were non-violent clerics. Some residents offer a competing theory that the killings were politically motivated and meant to destabilize the area. End summary. ¶2. (C) A group of masked gunmen on August 12 reportedly shot and killed 5 Pakistani clerics affiliated with the Tabliq Jamaat movement at Towfiq mosque in Galcaio. (Note: The Tabliq Jamaat is a conservative Islamic missionary movement. Some extremists have been linked to the group but Tabliq Jamaat is generally considered to be apolitical and nonviolent. Foreign Tabliq Jamaat clerics travel to Somalia regularly. Seven Pakistani Tabliq Jamaat clerics in January 2007 were arrested near Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, inviting considerable public protest. End Note.) The Pakistanis reportedly flew into Galcaio airport and were residing at the mosque. The gunmen forced the Pakistanis outside of the mosque before early morning prayers and shot them in the street before fleeing the scene. Our contacts tell us the mosque is located on the border between the two halves of Galcaio and, consequently, both political administrations have accused each other of lax security or complicity in the killings. (Note: Southern Galcaio is governed by a coalition comprising ASWJ-aligned militia and a Hawiye/Habr Gedir/Sa'ad local administration. Northern Galcaio is governed by a local Majerteen administration which considers itself a part of Puntland but has little confidence in Puntland President "Faroole". End note.) ¶3. (C) Our contacts tell us the most common theory in Galcaio is that ASWJ killed the clerics because ASWJ suspected the Pakistanis of supporting al-Shabaab. (Note: ASWJ is best described as an ideological Sufi orientation shared by the majority of Somalis. Over recent months some ASWJ leaders have organized militia, through local clan support, to take part in armed resistance against al-Shabaab. ASWJ is highly decentralized in both its ideological and militant manifestations. End note.) Our contacts tell us ASWJ from Galgaduud region issued a statement of condemnation. The Galgaduud ASWJ are reportedly not directly connected with ASWJ in the Galcaio area. A contact with a non-militant ASWJ group in Mogadishu told us he thinks ASWJ in Galciao was involved. A well-connected ASWJ supporter told us he thinks ASWJ should have killed the clerics, whether they did or not, because it is "better to be safe". Several of our contacts say most residents in Galcaio think the Pakistanis were non-violent clerics. ¶4. (C) Some residents offer a competing theory that the killings are politically motivated and meant to destabilize the area. Against the backdrop of the August 5 murder in Galcaio of the Puntland Minister of Information (reftel) and a subsequent curfew in northern Galcaio, some residents think the killings are intended to further destabilize the town. However, our contacts were unable to explain exactly what political machinations might be behind the assassinations. They unanimously noted, however, that there is so much tension, that "anything is possible." (Note: "Faroole" has highlighted the area, where he enjoys very little support, as a "terrorist" safehaven. Longstanding HabrGedir and Majerteen tensions dominate Galcaio, and ASWJ recently put its military weight behind the local administration in southern Galcaio when it was confronted with a rival HabrGedir leader claiming NAIROBI 00001718 002 OF 002 authority. End note.) RANNEBERGER