(C) SOMALIA: HAWALA SYSTEM (C-AL9-00800)

S E C R E T STATE 047919 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2034 TAGS: PINR TINT SO SUBJECT: (C) SOMALIA: HAWALA SYSTEM (C-AL9-00800) Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE UN-FUNDED PROGRAM TO FACILITATE SOMALI HAWALAS' ACCEPTANCE OF AN UPGRADED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO POLICYMAKERS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF GRADUALLY INTEGRATING SOMALIA'S HAWALA SYSTEM INTO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM. ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. ¶A. (S) WHICH UN PROGRAM IS SPONSORING THIS IT PLATFORM PROGRAM AND WHAT IT THE ESTIMATED COST? ¶B. (S) WHICH HAWALAS HAVE ACCEPTED THE IT PLATFORM TO DATE? ¶C. (S) WHAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO RECRUIT OTHER HAWALAS TO JOIN THE PLATFORM? WHAT OTHER HAWALAS ARE BEING TARGETED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS PROGRAM? ¶D. (S) WHAT PROBLEMS IS THE IT PLATFORM EXPERIENCING SO FAR, AND ARE PARTICIPATING HAWALAS ENCOUNTERING ANY LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF JOINING THE IT PLATFORM? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-00800 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON