SOMALIA - MOGADISHU TENSE BUT CALM

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000955 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S CARSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER EAID SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - MOGADISHU TENSE BUT CALM ¶1. Summary: Mogadishu remained calm on May 12 after continued fighting between Islamic extremists and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on May 11. TFG officials tell us they retook some lost ground in two counterattacks late on May 11, but are still facing a considerable challenge from al-Shabaab and Hisbul Islami forces arrayed against them. Hundreds have been displaced by the fighting. The death toll has risen to over 70 killed and hundreds wounded. TFG officials tell us they are optimistic they can prevail in the expected clashes that lie ahead. End Summary ¶2. After a brief lull overnight May 10, clashes between Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and their allies, and Islamist extremists resumed on the afternoon of May 11. Six more Somalis were killed and 16 wounded in the May 11 fighting, bringing the total since May 9 to over 70 killed and hundreds wounded. A tenuous calm prevailed May 12, but TFG officials expected more fighting in the days ahead. ¶3. On May 12 National Security Minister Omar Hashi informed us that on May 11 government forces successfully re-occupied Ex-Control Afgoye -- a key intersection in the Deyninle district -- and the Fagah neighborhood in lower Yaqshid district, which the TFG had lost in earlier fighting. Defense Minister Mohamed Abdi Mohamed "Ghandi" said that during yesterday's clashes extremist groups launched mortar attacks toward Villa Somalia, the presidential compound. Although none hit inside the compound, one round struck an adjacent military camp, wounding three TFG soldiers. Minister Ghandi said the TFG was not responding to the Islamist's ineffectual mortar barrages to avoid contributing to civilian casualties. He lamented the civilian casualties thus far, and accused extremists of shielding themselves with civilians. ¶4. Minister Ghandi, a former Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia member, was disappointed with the performance of Union of Islamic Courts troops, some of whom defected from the TFG early in the fighting. He praised the previous administration's remaining Ethiopian- and newly-arrived Ugandan-trained troops as capable and disciplined. The Uganda-trained force was charged with guarding the neighborhood around Villa Somalia. ¶5. Our contacts report hundreds, perhaps thousands of civilians have fled the fighting, especially in the heavily affected Wardhigley and Yaqshid districts. Media reports of 17,000 are likely inflated. Many of the displaced had recently returned to their homes since the formation of the new government, Minister Hashi told us. ¶6. Minister Ghandi told us President Sharif has been leading meetings with security chiefs, clan elders and religious leaders in an effort to resolve the conflict. Ghandi said Sharif and others were optimistic, but recognized the serious challenge facing them. ¶7. A weeklong Somali Islamic scholar's conference concluded on May 11 in Mogadishu with a six point communique. While condemning renewed violence in Mogadishu, the scholars declared the TFG an "Islamic" government and called on both sides to cease fire. The Puntland government also called for an end to hostilities, terming Mogadishu "the capital of Somalia." The Puntland administration called for broad-based consultation with and by all stakeholders to study and resolve the crisis. ¶8. At a press conference May 12 in Mogadishu, Hussien Fidow, an al-Shabaab spokesman denied President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's statement that the TFG is protecting civilians. Fidow said TFG is protecting Uganda and Burundi forces. Fidow also dismissed the council of Islamic Scholars as a conference of "TFG apologists." In yet another admission of the presence of foreign jihadist elements with al-Shabaab, Fidow it was irrelevant that the "selfless mujahidin brothers" who sacrificed their life to aid Somalis were "foreigners". "They are our Mujahidin brothers" said Fidow. RANNEBERGER