Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ADDISABABA236
2010-02-04 13:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

AU SUMMIT: SOMALILAND FORMIN REASSURES A/S CARSON

Tags:  PGOV EAID PREL PTER SO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6198
PP RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #0236/01 0351354
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041354Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7653
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0048
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 1804
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
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).

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