Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OTTAWA636
2009-08-19 17:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADIAN-SOMALIS FEAR AL-SHABAB STRENGTHENING
how-toVZCZCXRO6442 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMR RUEHMT RUEHPA RUEHQU RUEHRN RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0636 2311726 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191726Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9765 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0024
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000636
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER EAID SO CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN-SOMALIS FEAR AL-SHABAB STRENGTHENING
REF: A. OTTAWA 615
B. STATE 78953
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000636
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER EAID SO CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN-SOMALIS FEAR AL-SHABAB STRENGTHENING
REF: A. OTTAWA 615
B. STATE 78953
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Rumors continue to circulate within the Somali
Diaspora in Canada of increasing Ethiopian and Kenyan
meddling in Somalia, according to Farah Aw-Osman, Executive
Director of the Canadian Friends of Somalia. Aw-Osman
expressed worry that these rumors might fuel Somali-Canadian
youth to return to Somalia to seek out training from
Al-Shabab. He opined that, once trained, those youth might
then stay to fight with Al-Shabab. Despite recent gains by
the peacekeeping troops from African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM),Aw-Osman was pessimistic about their ability to
bring stability to the country. He commented that "the AU
protects only the airport, the sea port, and the presidential
palace. Al-Shabab controls the rest of Mogadishu," as well
as parts of the countryside. He added that a credible Somali
national force would be the only means of defeating
Al-Shabab, and that only international assistance could
create that capacity.
2. (C) While unfamiliar with the recent agreement by the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (ref b),Aw-Osman applauded the
strategy while noting that it was essential that
international donors step up their contributions. He
acknowledged that donors would only increase their aid to the
extent they believe it will be used for the intended
purposes. He added that the TFG continues to be hobbled by
its inability govern Mogadishu, let alone the entire country,
and he blamed the Djibouti Agreement for creating a "flawed"
structure.
3. (C) Aw-Osman lamented that Canada sees "no role for
itself" in bringing about a long-term solution to stability
in Somalia. He commented that the Somali Diaspora in Canada
-- with over 200,000 residents -- is the largest African
expatriate community in the country, and yet Canadian
International Development Agency officers have told him
repeatedly that Somalia "does not fall within their mandate,"
except to provide humanitarian relief.
4. (C) In contrast with the perceived "malevolent" intentions
of Kenya and Ethiopia in the minds of Somali-Canadians,
Aw-Osman praised "the sacrifices" of Burundi and Uganda "to
help the people of Somalia." He underscored that both
countries have been generous contributors to AMISOM.
Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
HOPPER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER EAID SO CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN-SOMALIS FEAR AL-SHABAB STRENGTHENING
REF: A. OTTAWA 615
B. STATE 78953
Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Rumors continue to circulate within the Somali
Diaspora in Canada of increasing Ethiopian and Kenyan
meddling in Somalia, according to Farah Aw-Osman, Executive
Director of the Canadian Friends of Somalia. Aw-Osman
expressed worry that these rumors might fuel Somali-Canadian
youth to return to Somalia to seek out training from
Al-Shabab. He opined that, once trained, those youth might
then stay to fight with Al-Shabab. Despite recent gains by
the peacekeeping troops from African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM),Aw-Osman was pessimistic about their ability to
bring stability to the country. He commented that "the AU
protects only the airport, the sea port, and the presidential
palace. Al-Shabab controls the rest of Mogadishu," as well
as parts of the countryside. He added that a credible Somali
national force would be the only means of defeating
Al-Shabab, and that only international assistance could
create that capacity.
2. (C) While unfamiliar with the recent agreement by the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (ref b),Aw-Osman applauded the
strategy while noting that it was essential that
international donors step up their contributions. He
acknowledged that donors would only increase their aid to the
extent they believe it will be used for the intended
purposes. He added that the TFG continues to be hobbled by
its inability govern Mogadishu, let alone the entire country,
and he blamed the Djibouti Agreement for creating a "flawed"
structure.
3. (C) Aw-Osman lamented that Canada sees "no role for
itself" in bringing about a long-term solution to stability
in Somalia. He commented that the Somali Diaspora in Canada
-- with over 200,000 residents -- is the largest African
expatriate community in the country, and yet Canadian
International Development Agency officers have told him
repeatedly that Somalia "does not fall within their mandate,"
except to provide humanitarian relief.
4. (C) In contrast with the perceived "malevolent" intentions
of Kenya and Ethiopia in the minds of Somali-Canadians,
Aw-Osman praised "the sacrifices" of Burundi and Uganda "to
help the people of Somalia." He underscored that both
countries have been generous contributors to AMISOM.
Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
HOPPER