SOMALIA 1844 DESIGNATIONS: USUN REQUESTS TO ENGAGE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000986 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2019 TAGS: KPKO MARR MOPS PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SO UNSC ER, DJ SUBJECT: SOMALIA 1844 DESIGNATIONS: USUN REQUESTS TO ENGAGE BEYOND P3 REF: A. STATE 096937 Classified By: RICE for reasons 1 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request - please see paras 6-8. ¶2. (C) Summary: Per Department instructions (REF A),USUN has shared with the P-3 a list of names we would consider designating under UNSCR 1844 (2008),the Somalia UN targeted sanctions regime established in November 2008. This list includes names initially suggested by the UN Somalia Monitoring Group (MG),as well as other U.S.-proposed targets. USUN believes that the UN Somalia Sanctions Committee should aim to make a first round of designations before or just after the Council's mid-November review of the regime, or risk criticism that the Council has not followed through on implementing 1844. The French mission has received limited instructions from Paris on these targets. According to the UK mission, London supports designating al-Shabaab and all of the individual names proposed by the MG, including Eritrean targets, but has not received feedback on additional U.S. proposals. USUN requests Washington clearance to share the U.S. list of proposed designations with other Committee members, starting with the P-5. USUN also requests guidance on the extent to which we may update the Somali UN mission about state of play. End summary. ¶3. (C) BACKGROUND: The Security Council's Somalia Sanctions Committee ("751 Committee") has not designated any individuals or entities since the Council established a new targeted sanctions regime for Somalia (UNSCR 1844) on 20 November 2008. Under UNSCR 1844, the Committee may designate individuals and entities found to be: threatening the peace, security, or stability of Somalia, AMISOM, or the Transitional Federal Institutions; violating the arms embargo; or obstructing of humanitarian assistance. Pursuant to UNSCR 1844, designated individuals are subject to a worldwide asset freeze, travel ban, and ban on arms transfers. USUN believes it is important to designate targets prior or just after the Security Council's mid-November review of the sanctions regime. If there are no listings imminent, the Council would have adopted a new targeted sanctions regime for Somalia without ensuring adequate follow through on designations. Designating Eritrean targets further underscores U.S. and Council concerns over Eritrea's destablizing effects on Somalia. Consensus is required for the 751 Committee to designate targets. The timeline for 1844 designations must include sufficient time for USUN to negotiate a package with Committee members prior to designation. -------------- P-3 Reactions -------------- ¶4. (C) Per Department instructions (REF A),USUN shared with the UK and France on September 19, a list of names the U.S. supports designating under UNSCR 1844 (2008). This list included U.S. reaction to targets proposed by the UN Somalia Monitoring Group (MG) as well as additional targets of interest to the U.S. As of November 2, the French Mission in New York has received limited feedback from Paris on the proposed targets or additional information sought by the U.S. The French stated that they can support the piracy targets proposed by the MG, but have no further instructions on other U.S.-proposed targets. The French mission recommended to USUN POLOFF that this information be sought through Paris. ¶5. (C) The UK mission has received instructions from London to support all the MG-proposed names. In particular, the UK noted that they can support the three Eritrean targets proposed by the MG, despite London's acknowledgement that there are "weak" bioidentifiers (i.e., information like date of birth or passport number that is required to implement the sanctions effectively). As per instructions (REF A),USUN discussed political implications of listing the Eritrean Minister of Information, Ali Abdu Ahmed, for making public statements, vice executing threatening or destablizing acts. According to the UK, the UK does not share U.S. sensitivities over designating indivuals for speech, alone. The UK shares USUN NEW Y 00000986 002 OF 002 U.S. political concerns that designating Hisb-al Islam could negatively impact or reverse positive defection trends and/or shifting political alliances. The UK prefers designating al-Shabaab in the 751 Committee, instead of the 1267 al-Qaeda/Taliban Sanctions Committee, but has not carefully considered whether a designation under both regimes is desirable. UKUN has no response from London on the additional U.S.-proposed names and has not received additional information to share with the U.S. on the proposed targets. Finally, the UK mission could not comment on whether the UK would co-designate the package when it is formally submitted to the Committee for consideration. -------------- Steps forward: Action Requests -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) USUN requests clearance to engage with Committee members beyond the P-3, beginning with Russia and China (Note: The Committee comprises current Security Council members. End note). USUN also seeks Washington guidance on the extent to which USUN may inform the Somali UN mission in New York of proposed listings. USUN proposes sharing with the P-5 and other Committee members our list of potential targets (below),with the caveat that Washington clearance on these names is not final: - Yasin Ali Baynah; - Hassan Dahir Aweys; - Hassan Abdullah Hersi "Al-Turki"; - Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed "Godane"; - Isse Kamboni (additional name proposed by U.S.); - Fuad Mohamed Khalaf (aka Fuad Shongale) (additional name proposed by U.S.); - Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud (additional name proposed by U.S.); - Mohamed Sa'id "Atom" (additional name proposed by U.S.); - Abshir Abdullahi "Boyah"; - Mohamed Abdi Garaad; - Fares Mohammed Mana'a; - Yemane Gebreab (Eritrean); - Ali Abdu Ahmed (Eritrean); - Tewelde Negash (aka Abdirahim Muse)(Eritrean); and - Al-Shabaab (entity). ¶7. (S/NF) USUN also requests that Washington provide information on the targets in para 6 that can be shared with the Committee, particularly for the U.S. additions to the MG's list and the Eritrean targets (Note: Eritrean targets will be the most controversial in the 751 Committee. Committee members have stated that evidence needs to be very strong to support these designations. Some members have expressed concern over targeting Yemane Gebreab, in particular, since he is a key interlocutor for many states. End Note). ¶8. (C) USUN seeks information from Embassies Paris and London on discussions with respective counterparts on 1844 designations (Note: Per Ref A instructions, USUN also asked the P-3 for additional information and bioidentifiers on Colonel Te'ame/Dha'ami Goitom; Mohamed Abdi Hassan "Afweyne" and Abshir Caato (aka Abshir Ato); no information has yet been provided. End Note). Rice