Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
96ADDISABABA1545
1996-03-05 07:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

COUNTERING THE ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST THREAT IN

Tags:  PTER KISL PINS MOPS ET 
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R 050737Z MAR 96
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5610
INFO AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY ASMARA 
AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 
USCINCENT MACDILL AFB FL
AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001545 


DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON FOR YOUNG
PARIS FOR MORAN
NAIROBI FOR SWAN

E.O. 12958: 03/05/01
TAGS: PTER KISL PINS MOPS ET
SUBJECT: COUNTERING THE ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST THREAT IN
ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION

REF: ADDIS ABABA 01479

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001545


DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON FOR YOUNG
PARIS FOR MORAN
NAIROBI FOR SWAN

E.O. 12958: 03/05/01
TAGS: PTER KISL PINS MOPS ET
SUBJECT: COUNTERING THE ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST THREAT IN
ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION

REF: ADDIS ABABA 01479


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POLOFF JEFFREY JACOBS, 1.5 (D).


2. (C) SUMMARY. RETIRED SOMALI GENERAL JAMA ISSA
MOHAMUD (AKA JAMA "GREEN") DISCUSSED RISING ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALIST ACTIVITY IN ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGIONAL
STATE AND OFFERED POSSIBLE METHODS TO COUNTER THE THREAT
TO REGIONAL STABILITY. THE GENERAL WARNED THAT ETHIOPIAN
MILITARY AUTHORITIES ARE WRONG TO ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE
THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. HE SUGGESTED THAT ONLY A
REGIONAL EFFORT, COORDINATED BEHIND THE SCENES BY THE
UNITED STATES, CAN DEFEAT THE WELL-FINANCED, HIGHLY
DISCIPLINED GUERRILLAS. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) ON 29 FEBRUARY POLOFF AND DEFENSE ATTACHE MET
WITH RETIRED SOMALI GENERAL JAMA "GREEN". THE MEETING
WAS ARRANGED BY FREQUENT EMBASSY CONTACTS DR. FARAH
HUSSEIN MOHAMED AND MOHAMMED MURSAL SHIL. SOMALILAND
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MUSSA (FNU) WAS PRESENT FOR THE
FIRST FEW MINUTES, BUT THEN SLIPPED OUT OF THE MEETING
SAYING HE WOULD "TALK WITH POLOFF LATER."

--------------
JAMA WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH AL'ITTIHAD
--------------


4. (C) GENERAL JAMA COMMANDED SOMALI FORCES WHICH HE
CLAIMED HAD DEFEATED THE AL'ITTIHAD ISLAMIC
FUNDAMENTALISTS IN JANUARY 1993. THE GENERAL SAID THAT
AL'ITTIHAD AT THAT TIME WAS 10,000 STRONG AND BASED
PRIMARILY IN "SOMALILAND." THE GENERAL SAID THAT HIS
FORCES CUT OFF MORE THAN 3,000 GUERRILLAS FROM THEIR
SOURCES OF SUPPLY IN A POCKET NEAR THE TOWN OF ERIGAVO
//GEOCOORDS: 1037N/4722E//. JAMA SAID HIS UNITS KILLED
MANY OF THE AL'ITTIHAD FIGHTERS BEFORE THE REMAINDER
SURRENDERED. JAMA SAID HIS TROOPS ROUNDED THEM UP,
TRUCKED THEM INTO THE WESTERN DESERT, AND TOLD THEM TO GO
BACK TO THEIR CLANS. THE GENERAL ESTIMATED THAT SOME
2,000 AL'ITTIHAD MEMBERS FLED INTO ETHIOPIA, WITH MANY
SETTLING IN WARDER //GEOCOORDS: 0658N/4520E//, GODE
//GEOCOORDS: 0606N/4301E//, AND KEBRI DEHAR //GEOCOORDS:
0644N/4417E//.

--------------
AL'ITTIHAD IS RISING FROM THE ASHES
--------------


5. (C) GENERAL JAMA SAID AL'ITTIHAD IS NOW REGROUPING
IN THE SOMALI REGIONAL STATE AND THAT THE EXTREMISTS ARE
BEING TRAINED IN THE REGION BY INSTRUCTORS FROM YEMEN,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAQ (NFI). OTHER AL'ITTIHAD MEMBERS

ARE RECEIVING TRAINING IN LIBYA, SUDAN, IRAN. A FEW ARE
IN MOMBASA, KENYA. THE GENERAL SAID HE HAS HEARD, BUT
CANNOT CONFIRM, THAT SOME ARE IN IRAQ.

--------------
AL'ITTIHAD THREATENS THE HORN
--------------


6. (C) THE GENERAL DESCRIBED AL'ITTIHAD AS THE MOST
DANGEROUS THREAT TO STABILITY IN THE HORN OF AFRICA. HE
DESCRIBED AL'ITTIHAD AS HAVING ITS ROOTS OUTSIDE SOMALIA
AND SAID THAT THE CHAOS FOLLOWING THE FALL OF SIAD BARRE
GAVE THE POLITICAL ISLAMISTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
PENETRATE THE REGION.


7. (C) JAMA SAID THE FUNDAMENTALIST GOAL IS TO
ESTABLISH AN ISLAMIC STATE IN THE HORN OF AFRICA. HE
CLAIMED THAT AL'ITTIHAD IS COMPRISED OF DISCIPLINED
FANATICS WHO HATE INTELLECTUALS, CHRISTIANITY, WHITE
PEOPLE, AND LOCAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS. HE SAID THEY
EXPLOIT THE IGNORANCE OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT RELIGION TO
SPREAD THEIR FALSE MILITANT VERSION OF THE KORAN.
(SOURCE COMMENT: HENCE THEIR HATRED OF RELIGIOUS
LEADERS. END COMMENT.)

--------------
EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO THE EXTREMISTS
--------------


8. (C) JAMA DESCRIBED SUDANESE LEADER AL TURABI AS THE
SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE EFFORT TO CREATE AN ISLAMIC
STATE, AND SAID AL'ITTIHAD RECEIVES ASSISTANCE FROM
SUDAN, IRAN, IRAQ, AND LIBYA. HE SAID THEIR CURRENT
METHOD OF OPERATION IS TO FUNNEL AID THROUGH SOMALI
STRONGMAN MOHAMMED FARAH AIDEED, WHOM JAMA DESCRIBED AS
"A POWER-HUNGRY ANIMAL WHO CARES LITTLE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
OF SOMALIA." JAMA ADDED THAT THE EMIR OF SHARIQAH (AS
HEARD) IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ALSO SUPPORTS
AL'ITTIHAD.
-

9. (C) JAMA SAID AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO
TRACE THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO
AL'ITTIHAD. THE GENERAL SAID LITTLE MONEY IS SENT
DIRECTLY TO SOMALIA; MOST IS ROUTED THROUGH EUROPEAN
SOURCES (NFI),ADDING THAT "A LOT OF WESTERN MONEY IS
GOING TO AIDEED." JAMA SAID THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC
RELIEF ORGANIZATION (IRO) IS PARTICULARLY SUSPECT, AND HE
CLAIMED THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE FLOWING, YET THE
"IRO REJECTED A LEGITIMATE PROPOSAL FOR A LIVESTOCK
PROJECT."


10. (C) POLOFF ASKED THE GENERAL ABOUT THE CARGO
CARRIED BY SUPPLY FLIGHTS TO AL'ITTIHAD REPORTED BY DR.
FARAH. JAMA CONFIRMED THAT TWO WEEKLY FLIGHTS DEPART
MOGADISHU FOR A DESERT AIRSTRIP ALONG THE ETHIOPIAN-
SOMALILAND BORDER (REFTEL). THE GENERAL SAID RECENT
CARGOS INCLUDED NEW CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS AND SMALL ARMS
AMMUNITION.

-------------- -
ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT UNDERESTIMATES THE THREAT
-------------- -


11. (C) THE DEFENSE ATTACHE ASKED JAMA WHY THE
ETHIOPIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE HAS CLAIMED THAT IT
CONTROLS THE REGION. JAMA REPLIED THAT THE ETHIOPIAN
GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY ARE POORLY INFORMED ABOUT THE
TRUE SITUATION IN THE SOMALI REGIONAL STATE. HE SAID THE
LARGELY TIGRAYAN MILITARY, IN PARTICULAR, HAS SURROUNDED
ITSELF WITH TRUSTED ETHNIC SOMALI ADVISORS WHO ARE NOT IN
TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION. AS A RESULT, JAMA
SAID THE MILITARY IN THE REGION OFTEN ARREST ALLEGED
AL'ITTIHAD MEMBERS AND SEIZE THEIR PROPERTY ON THE
FLIMSIEST OF EVIDENCE. JAMA SAID THAT WHILE THE PEOPLE
DO NOT LIKE AL'ITTIHAD, HEAVY-HANDED EFFORTS BY THE
GOVERNMENT ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

--------------
JAMA EXPLAINS HOW TO DEFEAT AL'ITTIHAD
--------------


12. (C) GENERAL JAMA SAID AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO
DEFEAT AL'ITTIHAD IS ESSENTIAL, AND HE ADDED THAT ONLY
THE UNITED STATES CAN COORDINATE THE ENDEAVOR. THE MOST
CRITICAL STEP, HE ARGUED, IS TO CLOSELY WATCH EXTREMIST
SUPPLY ROUTES THROUGH BERBERA AND DJIBOUTI. JAMA ALSO
SUGGESTED MONITORING ARABIC LANGUAGE RADIO TRAFFIC,
COMMENTING THAT "THE BIG SHOTS LIKE TO TALK AT NIGHT."
HE SUGGESTED WATCHING HOTELS IN DJIBOUTI, SAYING THE
FUNDAMENTALISTS TEND TO CONGREGATE THERE. HE ADDED THAT
AL'ITTIHAD MEMBERS OFTEN CHEW CHAT AND TEND TO TALK
OPENLY OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WHEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
FINALLY, JAMA SAID THE ETHIOPIA GOVERNMENT MUST OFFER
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO COUNTERBALANCE THE MESSAGE
OF THE EXTREMISTS, AND THE LARGELY TIGRAYAN LEADERS IN
ADDIS ABABA MUST EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THE SOMALI
NATIONAL STATE.

--------------
BIO DATA
--------------


13. (C) RETIRED GENERAL JAMA, 51, IS AN ETHNIC SOMALI
FROM THE DAROOD CLAN. JAMA SAID HE SERVED AS A
BATTALION, BRIGADE, AND DIVISION COMMANDER DURING HIS 29-
YEAR CAREER IN THE SOMALI ARMY. THE GENERAL PROMISED TO
PROVIDE HIS CURRICULUM VITAE TO POLOFF SOON (SEPTEL).
POL/ECON OAU OFFICER MET GENERAL JAMA DURING GENERAL
SCHWARZKOPF'S VISIT TO MOGADISHU IN 1989. HE REMEMBERS
HIM AS HAVING A RELATIVELY GOOD PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION,
BUT BEING OVERSHADOWED BY MORE FLAMBOYANT AND RUTHLESS
COLLEAGUES SUCH AS "MORGAN."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


14. (C) OUR SOMALI CONTACTS WERE QUITE NERVOUS AND
AFRAID THAT AL'ITTIHAD AGENTS MIGHT BE FOLLOWING THE
GENERAL. THE MEETING WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED AS A LUNCH
HOSTED BY THE DATT BUT, ALTHOUGH THE RESTAURANT WAS
EMPTY, THE SOMALIS REFUSED TO DISCUSS BUSINESS THERE AND
INSISTED THAT WE ADJOURN TO A PRIVATE HOME. THEY ALSO
INSISTED THAT THE AMERICANS DEPART FIRST TO THE FOLLOW-ON
MEETING. WE LEFT THE RESTAURANT AND RECONVENED LATER IN
DR. FARAH'S HOME. ONCE THERE, THEY SAID THEY HAD TO BE
VERY CAREFUL "BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING."


15. (C) CLEARLY NONE OF THE SOMALIS FEARED BEING SEEN
BY ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES. ALL OF THEM SAID THAT THE
FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA OFFERS THE BEST
HOPE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOMALI REGION. THEY
COMMENTED THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE DARED TO MEET OPENLY
WITH AMERICANS DURING THE DERG OR EVEN UNDER EMPEROR
HAILE SELASSIE'S REGIME.


16. (C) POLOFF AND DATT DID NOT ENCOURAGE THE GENERAL
TO THINK THE U.S. WOULD COORDINATE THE EFFORT TO DEFEAT
AL'ITTIHAD. WE TOLD HIM ONLY THAT WE WOULD REPORT HIS
REQUEST TO WASHINGTON. THE GENERAL SEEMED SATISFIED AND
DID NOT PRESS THE ISSUE.


17. (U) ASMARA MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.


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