NORWEGIANS SAY SECURITY AID TO SOMALIA CRUCIAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000133 SIPDIS PASS TO AF/RSA COL. MIKE SKARDON E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO SO NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS SAY SECURITY AID TO SOMALIA CRUCIAL, BUT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FUND REF: STATE 17205 Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: While agreeing with all our views of the security situation in Somalia, the GON feels its hands are tied when it comes to direct support of security forces in Somalia. Despite being the third largest humanitarian aid donor in the country, Norway will have to seek to contribute to the security situation through ODA or the trust fund. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel to Trine Mathisen, advisor in the MFA section for East and Central Africa. After poloff discussed the talking points, Mathisen enthusiastically agreed with our evaluation of the security situation, the auspiciousness of the moment, and the importance of exploiting it. She said that the new political situation in Somalia creates new opportunities, and the new unity government might have real support on the ground. Furthermore, the fact that Ethiopia has withdrawn means that there is no sense of common enemy that could be used as a scapegoat by various parties. ¶3. (C) Mathisen said that the GON is closely following the development of the Somali security forces, and hoped that the trust fund envisaged by UNSCR 1863, which Norway supports, will provide a mechanism through which the security sector can be supported effectively and quickly. Norway hopes that there will be a mechanism developed through which the GON can overcome the "onerous barriers" it has internally that prevent it from spending money outside the context of overseas development assistance. Mathisen noted that the GON is already supporting the security sector through the UNDP Rule of Law and Security Program. ¶4. (C) Mathisen noted that aid to Somalia this year will total 260 million kroner (approx $37 million),as it did last year. The majority of that aid is humanitarian, some comes in the form of funds to support peace and reconciliation, and some also comes in the form or medium-term transitional aid. WHITNEY