SOMALIA - Cabinet Nominated and Sworn In

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 000348 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E LONDON FR ACTING A/S CARTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - Cabinet Nominated and Sworn In ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On February 20, Prime Minister Sharmarke nominated a 36-member cabinet to lead the new unity Transitional Federal Government (TFG). In composing the cabinet, each of the ministries was first allocated to a specific clan and sub-clan and then the ministers were chosen from these groups, thus ensuring representative clan distribution. Sharif and Sharmarke engaged in extensive consultations on the structure and composition of the cabinet, including with the Ambassador and members of the Somalia Unit. The final cabinet is larger than ideal, several of the key ministries were awarded to Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) loyalists, and there are only three women. Yet there are relatively equal numbers from both the ARS and the TFG and there are no hard-line fundamentalists. We have cultivated excellent relationships with the majority of the individuals who now comprise the cabinet. ¶2. (SBU) Summary Cont'd. The morning of February 21, the cabinet was sworn in, prior to parliamentary debate and approval. Although parliamentarians expressed disappointment in the nominations, the night of February 21, they voted overwhelmingly to support the cabinet. Sharif openly acknowledged the imperfections in its composition, but insisted the nominations were an early measure to mollify a variety of constituents. Over the next few months, after they return to Mogadishu and begin work, he indicated that the cabinet would be adjusted based on the needs at hand. President Sharif and the PM have been open throughout the selection process and have sought our views and support at all key junctures. End Summary. Intense Consultations and Negotiations -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Since his election on January 30, President Sheikh Sharif has consulted regularly with us in his selection of a prime minister and the process to stand up his government. On February 19 Ambassador Ranneberger spoke to Sharif by phone and expressed our expectation that the cabinet be balanced, representative, and composed of individuals with whom we can effectively work. Sharif noted the intense pressures from multiple constituencies seeking influence in the cabinet but promised to deliver a cabinet based on these criteria. During this conversation, for instance, he lamented the cabinet's potential size, but said he had to share cabinet positions among the many sub-clans, as a means of advancing the reconciliation process. He told us that once the government returned to Mogadishu and began work, the structure and composition will be adjusted accordingly. PM Sharmarke told us that he intended to re-visit the cabinet structure in three to six months. ¶4. (SBU) The evening of February 20, Prime Minister Sharmarke presented parliament with a list of 36 ministers and a document that outlined the priorities for his government. As Sharif warned us the day before, the nomination process was influenced by powerful constituencies, each insisting on their "fair share" of the ministries. The PM presented us with an advance copy of the nominations hours before it was given to parliament. After parliament convened on February 20 to hear the announcements, several last minute changes were still being made. Late into the night, negotiations continued among the various interested parties. Cabinet Sworn In -------------- ¶5. (SBU) To the surprise of many, the ministers were convened at Djibouti's presidential villa on February 21 at 11:00 a.m. to be sworn in. Although most had expected the parliament to first debate the list of nominations and give a vote of confidence, the Charter does not require this step. With dissention within parliament about the selections and the time pressure to return to Mogadishu, Sharif opted to expedite the process by conducting a limited invitation swearing-in ceremony to which no MPs were invited. The ceremony began three hours late as Sharif, Sharmarke and others were in closed-door negotiations, primarily with leaders from the Darod/Marehan sub-clan who wanted more than the Deputy Prime Minister position they received. Two Darod minister designates refused to attend the swearing-in: Deputy Prime Minister of Energy and Petroleum Resources Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeeh and Minister of NAIROBI 00000348 002 OF 003 Diaspora Outreach Abdullahi Ahmed Abdulle Azari. President Sharif Implores Parliament to Understand Constraints -------------- ¶6. (SBU) After an almost three hour delay, parliament convened at about 8:45 pm on February 21 to consider the cabinet appointments and Prime Minister Shemarke's program for the government. The Speaker announced that 375 MPs were present -- enough for a quorum. President Sharif addressed parliament and immediately shifted the mood among the hostile MPs. Sharif told the parliamentarians that all Somalis have high expectations and that they are looking to them to make a difference. He explained that in the short time that PM Sharmarke was given to form a government, he listened to a wide range of advice and made his selections based on these consultations. Sharif acknowledged that neither he nor Sharmarke will be 100 percent correct in their decisions and that they will make mistakes. Yet he asked for the confidence and the support of parliament through the process. ¶7. (SBU) Sharif said that they applied the 4.5 formula for clan representation, but still could not satisfy everyone. He said that he wanted the representatives to fully understand the constraints on the nominations. He reminded the MPs that they were all put into office to solve old problems and therefore should not create new divisions. "We must help each other solve the problems of Somalia; I respect parliament and the MPs and will abide by whatever outcome you decide," he said. He implored the MPs to remember that that their mandate was to support the Somali people, not their clan and that similarly, all should expect the ministers to represent Somalia, not their clans. Sharif concluded by asking parliament to give a vote of confidence to this cabinet as the next step in the solution to Somalia's problems. Parliament Gives Overwhelming Vote of Confidence -------------- ¶8. (SBU) After President Sharif concluded his address, the Speaker opened the floor for debate. The first motion was for parliament to vote by secret ballot on a vote of confidence for the cabinet. One of the sponsoring MPs read the motion aloud and the names of the 51 MPs endorsing the motion. Madobe said that they were logistically unprepared to vote by secret ballot and if the MPs insisted, the PM would return to Mogadishu and make new appointments from there. The Speaker warned that those who were pushing for secret ballots were trying to obstruct the process and would cause the early collapse of the government. ¶9. (SBU) As soon as the floor opened for debate, about 20 MPs rushed to put their names on the list to speak. PM Shermarke found an unlikely champion in ex-warlord and MP Mohamed Quanyare who said that the PM was new and was expected to make mistakes, but the time for complaints was over. Quanyare implored the MPs to vote and return to Somalia tomorrow. The MPs responded with resounding applause and agreed, with a show of hands, to vote immediately for the cabinet. The outcome was an overwhelming vote of support for the government: 354 to 19 with 2 abstentions. The New Cabinet -------------- ¶10. (U) Post will provide septel more complete biographical information on each of the ministers. The confirmed cabinet appointments follow: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources - Abdirahman Aden Ibrahim "Ibbi" -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance - Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden -- Deputy Prime Minister of Energy and Petroleum Resources - Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeeh -- Minister of Foreign Affairs - Mohamed Abdullahi Omar -- Minister of Defense - Mohamed Abdi Mohamed "Gandi" -- Minister of National Planning and International Cooperation - Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame NAIROBI 00000348 003 OF 003 -- Minister of Constitution and Federal Affairs - Madobe Nunow Mohamed -- Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowmentss - Sheikh Ali Adan -- Minister of Women and Family Affairs - Fowziya Mohamed Sheikh -- Minister of Rehabilitation and Handicapped - Mohamed Ali Ibrahim -- Minister of Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance - Mohamed Abdi Ibrahim -- Minister of Information - Farhan Ali Mohamed -- Minister of Scientific Research and Technology - Mohamed Ali Hagaa -- Minister of Health - Qamar Aden Ali (woman) -- Minister of Labor and Workforce Development - Mohamed Abdi Hayir "Mareeye" -- Minister of Diaspora Outreach - Abdullahi Ahmed Abdulle Azari -- Minister of Education - Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh Mohamed "Wayel" -- Minister of Public Works and Housing - Mohamed Abdi Yusuf -- Minister of Rural Development - Khadija Mohamed Diriye -- Minister of Youth and Sports - Seleban Olaad Roble -- Minister of Interior - Abdukadir Ali Omar -- Minister of Security - Omar Hashi Aden -- Minister of Livestock - Aboukar Abdi Osman -- Minister of Justice - Abdurahman Mohamud Farah "Janaqow" -- Minister of Agriculture - Mohamed Nur Shati Gudud -- Minister of Ports and Marine Transport - Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade -- Minister of National Property and Equipment - Mohamed Mursal -- Minister of Culture and Higher Education - Ibrahim Hassan Addow -- Minister of Mineral Resources and Water - Abdallah Boss Ahmed -- Minister of Reconstruction and Recovery - Hussein Helabe Fahiye -- Minister of Tourism and Wildlife - Mohamed Hussein Said -- Minister of Posts and Telecommunications - Abdirizak Osman Jurile -- Minister of Commerce - Abdirashid Irro -- Minister of Industries - Abdirahman Jama -- Minister of Land and Air Transportation - Ali Jama Jangeli -- Minister of Environment - Buri Mohamed Hamsa Was this report useful? Send questions and comments to SomaliaWatchers@state.sgov.gov. RANNEBERGER