AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH THE EUROPEAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000643 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/RSA, AND EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/9/2019 TAGS: PREL AU EUN SO LY SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S DIRECTOR GENERAL STEFANO MANSERVISI TRIPOLI 00000643 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Joan Polaschik, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On July 2, Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson met with the European Commission's (EC) Director General for Development, Stefano Manservisi, on the margins of the African Union (AU) Summit in Sirte, Libya. Manservisi requested the meeting to discuss current U.S. priorities in Africa and share information about evolving EC engagement with the AU. The meeting focused largely on security in the Horn of Africa and prospects for the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). End Summary. SHARED SUPPORT FOR THE FRAGILE TFG -------------- ¶2. (C) A/S Carson noted his primary objective in attending the Summit was to generate "maximum support" for the TFG and President Sheik Sharif, adding that the USG would do everything it could to support the Djibouti process and "help the TFG survive." While A/S Carson acknowledged that the TFG had become "extremely fragile" in the last six to seven weeks, a post-TFG Somalia government could potentially represent a greater threat to region. ¶3. (C) A/S Carson explained that the USG would try to broaden the policy dialogue on Somalia to include issues beyond counterterrorism. In particular, he highlighted several regional concerns including the exodus of Somali refugees to Kenya, the "proxy" conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the need to isolate Eritrea as a supporter of the conflict in Somalia. ¶4. (C) Director General Manservisi agreed with A/S Carson's perspective on Somalia and thanked the USG for trying to find a solution to the ongoing Somali conflict. He noted that support for the TFG, security, development, and humanitarian assistance are the main pillars of European support in Somalia. Manservisi discussed the EC's plans to create a working group to continue the dialogue on Somalia and identify projects that would advance the EC's strategy in the region. AMISOM AND TFG DELIVERY OF SERVICES CRUCIAL FOR TFG SURVIVAL -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The Director General and A/S Carson talked about their shared perspective that the TFG would not collapse as long as ;Ugandan forces remained engaged under AMISOM. Manservisi further noted his belief that UNDP operations in Somalia were not working well. On behalf of the EC, Manservisi promised to support police training and work with AMISOM to increase the number of soldiers contributed to the force. ERITREA: NO FORMAL EC POSITION -------------- ¶6. (C) Manservisi said the EC had encouraged representatives from Somalia and Eritrea attending the AU Summit to talk and acknowledge the "political reality behind the conflict." Although the EC has not yet publicly stated their position on Eritrea, Manservisi promised the EC would do so soon. Manservisi discussed his observations that Eritrea "was listening" but not taking steps to withdraw its support for al-Shabaab, and noted that the EC would, as a result, work to increase multilateral pressure on Eritrea "to deliver results." EC's efforts will focus on identifying feasible actions to this end. ¶7. (C) Manservisi also explained his belief that the imposition of sanctions on Eritrea would worsen the situation in Somalia and that a mere threat of sanctions would serve as a more effective means of getting Eritrea back on the right path. Efforts to address regional factors in the Somalia conflict must also include the Gulf states and related financing, and take into account the fact that Somalia is not "just Mogadishu", Manservisi added. EC: ETHIOPIA "PLAYING THE SAME GAME AS ERITREA" -------------- - ¶8. (C) Manservisi said Ethiopia is "playing the same game as Eritrea" in pursuing conflicting national interests on Somalia. Politically, Manservisi continued, the EC believes that returning Ethiopian troops to Somalia would "kill the peace process" there and that "AMISOM must be made into a credible TRIPOLI 00000643 002.2 OF 002 deterrent." WEST AFRICA DESERVES MORE ATTENTION -------------- ¶9. (C) Inquiring about other USG concerns in Africa (beyond Somalia and related issues),Manservisi noted that increasing fragility and political backsliding in Niger and Guinea are of particular interest to the EC. In response, A/S Carson agreed that West Africa deserves more attention from the international community, and discussed the alarming potential for increased drug trafficking in the region. The USG is encouraging West African partner countries to turn apprehended drug traffickers over to us and/or Europeans for prosecution whenever possible, A/S Carson added. CONCLUSION -------------- ¶10. (C) The meeting concluded with Manservisi noting the EC was in early stages of an "ambitious relationship" with the AU, which includes engagement on security assistance, political leadership, economic development, governance and climate change. He added the EC was experiencing particular difficulty in its efforts to work with the AU Regional Economic Communities and would welcome the opportunity to share information with the USG upon completion of assessments presently underway. The financial absorption capacity of the AU and its ability to successfully identify common interests and develop partnerships with the EC were cited as specific EC concerns. ¶11. (U) A/S Carson has approved this cable. POLASCHIK