AU SUMMIT: SOMALILAND FORMIN REASSURES A/S CARSON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000236 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/FO AND AF/E NSC FOR MGAVIN PARIS FOR PLORD LONDON FOR WBAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 TAGS: PGOV EAID PREL PTER SO SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: SOMALILAND FORMIN REASSURES A/S CARSON ON ELECTIONS, REQUESTS ASSISTANCE Classified By: USAU Ambassador Michael Battle for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (U) February 1, 2010; 7:00 p.m.; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ¶2. (C) Participants: U.S. Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson Ambassador Michael Battle USAU DCM Joel Maybury Special Assistant Akunna Cook IO Michael Gonzales (Notetaker) SOMALILAND Foreign Minister Abdullahi Duale Notetaker ¶3. (C) SUMMARY. Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdullahi Duale assured Amb. Carson that the "nightmare" political stand-off over the coming elections in Somaliland "is behind us," that the government of Somaliland has adopted the six-point agreement between parties as national policy, and that the re-constituted National Electoral Commission (NEC) is a cohesive body. Duale encouraged the United States to send a team to observe the elections. Duale also urged increased U.S. development assistance to build roads and infrastructure. Noting that insecurity in Yemen has a direct impact on Somaliland, Duale expresses his government's hope that U.S.-Yemeni counterterrorism collaboration in Yemen does not negatively impact Somaliland. Affirming that al-Shabaab extremists in Somalia continue to threaten Somaliland, Duale emphasized the need to build the capacity of Alhu Sunna Wal Jama'a (ASWJ),which the ForMin asserted "we believe can make a difference in Somalia." Noting that the United States wants to see Somaliland succeed, Amb. Carson stressed the expectation that the government will continue to provide public services, build institutions, and serve as a model for the rest of Somalia. Carson urged Somaliland to "stay on a democratic track," noting that loss of public confidence in governments prompts people to look to other avenues of support. End Summary. ELECTIONS: THE NIGHTMARE IS BEHIND US -------------- ¶4. (C) Getting right to business, Foreign Minister Duale opened his meeting with Amb. Carson by arguing that the "nightmare (political stand-off over the coming elections in Somaliland) is behind us." Duale argued that, unlike the previous group, the reconstituted NEC is cohesive and Somaliland is waiting for the NEC to set an election date. Arguing that Somaliland now has a "clean slate," Duale stressed that the government has adopted as policy the six- point agreement signed last Fall between political parties and will ensure that it is fully implemented. While the government infrastructure is in place for the elections, Duale conceded that security preparations remain underway. Noting that his government has already invited the EU, Arab League, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),and African Union to observe the coming elections, Duale asked the United States to also send an observer team. Quickly pressing through his agenda, Duale cited that after 20 years "we see the light at the end of the tunnel and we would like to see development." The Foreign Minister urged the international community to take a two-track approach with regard to Somaliland and southern Somalia. While continuing to support the south, he called for development assistance to help build roads and infrastructure in Somaliland. ¶5. (C) Appreciating the stability that Somaliland has brought to the region, Amb. Carson noted that the United States wants to see the government deliver services, build institutions, and serve as a model for the rest of Somalia. "We urge you to stay on a democratic track," Carson ADDIS ABAB 00000236 002 OF 002 stressed noting that loss of public confidence in governments prompts people to look to other avenues of support. "To the extent that the government can conduct credible elections, build institutions, and effectively utilize resources, the U.S. can assist," Carson stated. "The U.S. is lacking neither commitment or resources, but that we need confidence -- which only the government can give -- in order to move ahead with support." ¶6. (C) In light of the region's history with extremists, Duale stressed that security is of paramount concern, especially during the coming elections. The Foreign Minister reminded Amb. Carson that his government has an outstanding request in with the U.S. Government and is still awaiting a response. Duale announced that President Riyale has asked the Somaliland representative in Washington, Saad Noor, a letter to pass to the State Department and encouraged Amb. Carson to receive him once Carson returns to the U.S. INSECURITY STILL A PROBLEM, FROM YEMEN AND SOUTHERN SOMALIA -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Duale immediately segued to note Somaliland's appreciation for close relations with regional countries, including Yemen, and mentioned that it recently opened a six-person office in Yemen. Noting that insecurity in Yemen has a direct impact on Somaliland, which lies just 80 kms from Aden, he stressed that information sharing between the two countries is imperative. Duale cited his hope that U.S.-Yemeni counterterrorism collaboration in Yemen does not negatively impact Somaliland. Duale used U.S. interventions in Afghanistan as an example that Somaliland wanted to avoid, arguing that the U.S. focus on Afghanistan without factoring in adequately the broader region allowed the emergence of a Pakistani Taliban. ¶8. (C) Duale confirmed to Amb. Carson that al-Shabaab and related extremists remain a "real threat" to Somaliland, which they do not take lightly. Duale reported that a Somaliland military commander was recently killed in the town of Las Anod. "We must be serious to counter them," he said after reporting that the government had cut all communications links with Las Anod and the Defense and Interior Ministers to the region were currently in the region to address security. Duale stated that security officers had caught several people involved in killing the commander; two are Eritrean citizens and others are from Mogadishu. Duale mentioned that Somaliland has robust information sharing arrangements with Ethiopia and Djibouti, and has "eyes" in Hargeisa, Las Anod, and Bossaso. ¶9. (C) Noting with appreciation the support which the United States is giving in the region, Duale stressed the need to build the capacity of ASWJ. "They are very tolerant and we know them," Duale attested, "We believe that they can make a positive difference in Somalia." Amb. Carson acknowledged the positive contributions that ASWJ has made in Somalia and noted the U.S. encouragement on Somali Transitional Federal President Sheikh Sharif to find common cause with ASWJ based on common goals of stability and a secure Somalia rather than just on a shared enemy. ¶10. (U) Amb. Carson has cleared this message. YATES