Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TRIPOLI560
2009-07-13 09:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tripoli
Cable title:  

AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL PGOV ER SO EG AU LY 
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1077
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0753
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0176
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0191
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 5556
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000560 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SO EG AU LY
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT

TRIPOLI 00000560 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Gene A. Cretz, Ambassador, US Embassy Tripoli,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000560

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SO EG AU LY
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT

TRIPOLI 00000560 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Gene A. Cretz, Ambassador, US Embassy Tripoli,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit
agreed with Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson's assessment that
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was the victim
of an ongoing proxy war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. In a July
2 meeting on the margins of the African Union (AU) Summit, Aboul
Gheit told A/S Carson that Egypt was not in a position to offer
Somalia any lethal weapons to fight al-Shabaab, but had promised
TFG President Sheikh Sharif training opportunities in Egypt for
loyal TFG police units in May. Aboul Gheit reiterated the offer
on July 1 but was awaiting Somalia's response. The minister
forcefully urged the USG to cut off al-Shabaab's funding via
Eritrea "at the source" in Qatar and other Gulf countries,
arguing that only the USG had the leverage and relationship to
force governments there to comply with international interests.
End summary.

SOMALIA: NEED TO CUT OFF ERITREAN AND QATARI SUPPORT FOR
AL-SHABAAB
-------------- --------------
--------------


2. (C) A/S Johnnie Carson met Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed
Aboul Gheit on the second morning of the AU Summit in Sirte,
Libya. Peppering A/S Carson with questions about the USG's
assessment of the situation in Somalia, he pointedly asked
whether the TFG could survive long enough for adequate support
to be delivered to help the TFG hold on and then al-Shabaab.
A/S Carson answered that their only chance was maximum effort
and increased support, coupled with ending al-Shabaab's
financing by Eritrea through pressure and sanctions on their
leadership. Aboul Gheit questioned whether countries like China
or Russia would comply with AU or UN calls to sanction Eritrean
leaders. He told A/S Carson that the AU Peace and Security
Commission had drafted language on sanctions that he expected
would be adopted.


3. (S) Noting the deteriorating conditions in Somalia and the
rise of Islamist influence, A/S Carson said that urgent

intervention was needed to prevent an even worse situation.
Aboul Gheit and A/S Carson agreed that Eritrea's support of
al-Shabaab was not rooted in their support for extremism but
rather their ongoing tensions and proxy war with Ethiopia.
Aboul Gheit asked A/S Carson whether Eritrea was solely
responsible or whether Gulf countries bore some blame for the
current situation. A/S Carson responded that the USG knew that
the Emir of Qatar was a principal supporter of Eritrea.


4. (C) Asking whether the State Department was taking that
message to "the Gates Foundation, Congress, and CENTCOM", Aboul
Gheit forcefully urged the USG to take a hard line against
Qatar's support for President Isaias and, indirectly,
al-Shabaab. According to Aboul Gheit, the U.S. is the only
actor that has the leverage to force Qatar to fall in line "or
else". Egypt can't influence Qatar's behavior, but the U.S. --
with its CIA and airbase in Qatar -- can convince the Emir that
he is endangering U.S. and regional interests by destabilizing
Somalia. Encouraging power politics, Aboul Gheit stated that
should pressure not work, the U.S. could threaten Qatar into
compliance. The minister said that official support from Qatar
was not the only danger, rather zealots campaigning around Gulf
mosques pleading, "pay for Somalia" could raise small sums from
individual sympathizers that could quickly reach USD $100,000 --
more than enough to fight in a small country.

EGYPT OFFERS TRAINING TO LOYAL TFG UNITS
--------------


5. (C) The Egyptians hosted TFG President Sheik Sharif in early
May and offered training for vetted and loyal TFG units, to
include artillery and urban combat training. Aboul Gheit said
he had reiterated the offer to Sharif on July 1 but worried that
Sharif would be faced with so much trouble upon departing Sirte
that he would be unable to furnish a list to the GOE. A/S
Carson described the USG's unprecedented support for TFG forces
in the form of cash for salaries, weapons, and ammunition.
Aboul Gheit reported that Egypt was not in a position to offer
lethal weapons and said he was worried by the repeated refrain

TRIPOLI 00000560 002.2 OF 002


from TFG leaders that they have no money -- expressing
hesitation that funds were being skimmed by unscrupulous
commanders and political leaders. A/S Carson said he had been
pleased to meet Sharif in a July 1 meeting (septel); Aboul Gheit
said Sharif was reasonable but cautioned A/S Carson that the TFG
was "not like you and me" but rather an organization filled with
Islamist leaders. Called away to another meeting, the Foreign
Minister invited A/S Carson to visit Cairo soon to meet and
coordinate with Egyptian diplomatic and intelligence leaders on
the situation in Somalia.


6. (U) A/S Carson has approved this message.
CRETZ