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INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1996
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1978
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 003836 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2026 
TAGS: PGOV PTER MOPS ASEC PREL SO KE SU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SOMALIA TFG SPEAKER 
SHARIF HASSAN SHEIKH ADEN AUGUST 30 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Ranneberger per 1.5 (b,d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador August 30, 
the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Speaker of 
Parliament gave his view of the current situation in 
Somalia, emphasized the need for American involvement and 
"neutral" troops, and described his planned approach to 
anyone in the Islamic Courts who may want to join the 
Transitional government.  His expectations for the current 
round of negotiations appear modest at best. The Ambassador 
reviewed U.S. policy and USG interest in meeting with the 
UIC,s Sheikh Sharif in order to deliver a clear message of 
U.S. expectations.  The speaker welcomed this and offered 
to help facilitate such a meeting.  He has been invited to 
Washington for an NDI program, probably around September 
¶16. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Somali (TFG) Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan 
Sheikh Aden came to the Ambassador's residence for a 
Breakfast discussion the morning of August 30 before the 
Speaker flew to Khartoum.  The Speaker was accompanied by 
two MPs, one of whom interpreted.  Also present were A/DCM 
and A/Polcouns (notetaker). 
 
Speaker's Views of Somalia Today 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by laying out U.S. 
views, based on previously received guidance from 
Washington.  He emphasized U.S. interest in working closely 
with the TFG.  He explained U.S. desire to encourage 
moderates within the UIC to assert themselves and to 
encourage the UIC to pursue a constructive dialogue with 
the TFG with a view to ensuring an inclusive, viable 
government.  The Ambassador touched, in general terms, on 
the message he intends to deliver when he meets with Sheikh 
Sharif.  The Speaker described Somalia today as "chaotic" 
and "in very bad shape."  He sees three forces in Mogadishu 
now: nationalists, Islamists, and veterans of earlier wars. 
The moderates and a "very small group" of extremists have 
different policy goals, but for now have the "the same 
interests."  Those interests are to become a government and 
to oppose foreign intervention, particularly from Ethiopia. 
Not long ago, the individuals now aligned with the Union of 
Islamic Courts (UIC) were incredibly weak militarily, with 
only five "technicals."  But when they won the people to 
their side, they were able to defeat the warlords and seize 
their weapons.  Having opened the port and airport, they 
now have increased access to funding as well.  They tell 
the people that the government (the TFG) wants to bring in 
the hated Ethiopians ("who fought two wars against us, in 
1963 and 1977") to "destroy us."  In response to the 
Ambassador,s question about dynamics within the TFG, Hassan 
said that "now it is me and the President and the rest 
against the Prime Minister." 
 
Ethiopia No, Neutral and American Involvement, Yes 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4. (C) The Speaker said he had always been against the 
presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, because it could 
lead to various war scenarios, one of which might be a 
proxy war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.  "We don't need to 
be the nail between the (Ethiopian) hammer and the 
(Eritrean) table."  Hassan said he had not seen Ethiopian 
troops in Somalia, but "people tell me they are there." 
Ethiopian intervention is counter-productive, Hassan 
emphasized.  He stressed that "America needs to be involved 
now," and should not have a "wait-and-see" attitude.  The 
Somali people want American diplomatic intervention, he 
claimed.  If the international community doesn't act 
quickly, "we (i.e. the TFG) will be gone."  Hassan said 
that "neutral" troops are needed to secure the airport, 
port, and presidency in Mogadishu, and to "re-establish" a 
Somali military.  Hassan said that IGAD forces would be 
seen as a proxy for Ethiopia. Once there is a stable 
government, the people themselves will turn over the 
Embassy bombers "that the U.S. says are in Mogadishu." 
 
Getting the UIC Into the TFG 
---------------------------- 
 
 
NAIROBI 00003836  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (C) Admitting that initial hopes for the Khartoum talks 
are not high, the Speaker said he was going to "open the 
dialogue," not to come up with final positions.  Some 
elements of the UIC don't want to be in the TFG, but it 
might be possible to persuade some to join. The Ambassador 
asked what Sharif Hassan would say to moderates.  We will 
say "you did a good job on security, but we have legitimacy 
with the international community.  Why not join us?  In 
three years, there will be elections, and you can contest 
them."  If they accept, then the TFG can discuss what 
positions they want, the Speaker said.  Though the 
Ambassador sought to draw out Hassan on the possible 
formulas for a deal, he would go no further. 
 
Complications: Clan Formulas, the Arab League? 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador asked if the Charter (the 
Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic, the 
foundational document of the TFIs) was open to amendment if 
that was the demand.  The Speaker replied that the Charter 
could be amended, with Parliament's approval.  However, 
"what we really fear is that they will completely reject 
the Charter," including the "4 point 5" formula for clan 
power-sharing.  The UIC leaders are "really all from the 
Hawiye clan," so if they demand seats in parliament or the 
government, it would endanger the formula anyway.  Asked by 
the Ambassador if the Arab League is playing a positive 
role, the Speaker replied that he was unaware of anything 
negative about the League's role.  However, the Arabs are 
being cautious, he said. 
 
Moderates 
--------- 
 
¶7. (C) Asked to identify moderates within the UIC, Sharif 
Hassan was hesitant.  Apart from talking with Sheikh 
Sharif, Hassan urged the U.S. to reach out to businessmen 
and intellectuals, but he did not have specific names.  The 
U.S. and TFG strategy, he emphasized, must be to isolate 
extremists within the UIC by appealing to the Somali public 
and by pushing Ethiopia and Eritrea to stay out of Somalia, 
so as not to provide a unifying point on which extremists 
can capitalize.  He noted that the TFG has no media means 
(particularly radio) for contact with the Somali people. 
Hassan named Yusuf Inde Adde as another moderate, saying he 
is from the Lower Shabelle area, controls Merka, and is the 
UIC security chief.  Toward the end of the meeting, he 
suggested the UIC head of delegation in Khartoum and 
"Foreign Minister," Ibrahim Hassan Addo.  The latter is 
U.S. educated, and spent years there, the Speaker said. 
Sharif Hassan said that he would try to get back to the 
Ambassador with names of other moderates. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) The Speaker welcomed increased contact with the 
Ambassador and USG interlocutors, and indicated he would 
welcome meetings in Washington in connection with his 
planned September visit.  His unwillingness to discuss 
potential detailed formulas for UIC-TFG accommodation 
likely reflects divisions within the TFG (as separate 
reporting has indicated) regarding parameters for power- 
sharing.  It is clear that he sees the Khartoum talks as a 
means of maintaining official dialogue, but has little 
expectation that those talks will yield a solution on the 
way forward. Hassan offered to help facilitate a meeting 
with Sheikh Sharif, if needed.  The Ambassador took note of 
the offer.  In an interesting bio note, Hassan said that he 
was the Catholic Relief Services representative in Somalia 
in 1994. 
RANNEBERGER