VZCZCXRO2259
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #2299/01 1520805
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010805Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0068
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002299 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  05/31/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT:  Somalia--NGRC Independence in Doubt 
 
 
Classified by PolOff John O'Leary.  Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary.  The May 25 resolution passed by 
Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament originally 
reported to confirm the independence of the National 
Governance and Reconciliation Committee has proven to be 
ambiguous, at best, upon review of the actual text.  The 
reported behind-the-scenes discussions on the measure raise 
serious issues.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) on 
May 26 deliberated on the approval of members for the 
National Governance and Reconciliation Committee (NGRC) 
appointed by President Yusuf to coordinate the National 
Reconciliation Congress scheduled to begin June 14.  Prime 
Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi attended and addressed the 
parliamentary session. 
 
¶3.  (U)  An Embassy translation of the resolution follows: 
 
Quote 
 
Transitional Federal Parliament of Somali Republic (TFP) 
Office of the 2nd Deputy Speaker 
 
 
 
Date: 26/05/2007 
 
Ref: TFP/032/07 
 
Objective: Resolution Regarding the Approval of Names of 
NGRC. 
 
On this day, 26/05/2007 
 
Having heard:  The debates and ideas brought forth by the 
Parliamentarians. 
 
Having noted:  The important points raised by the 
Parliamentarians in the debate. 
 
Having subjected to voting:  The ideas which emanated from 
the debate. 
 
Having referred to:   Article 30 (4) of parliament's 
standing Orders. 
 
Hawing witnessed:  The Voting by 159 Parliamentarians. 
 
 
One hundred and fifty-one MPs have voted for and eight MPs 
voted against and none abstained. 
 
Therefore, Parliament fully supports the NGRC and its 
programs in the period of the process of the NRC. 
 
The Names of the NGRC 
 
¶1.  Hon. Ali Mahdi Mohamed ?Chairman 
¶2.  Hon. Mohamed Salah Ladane 
¶3.  Hon. Mohamud Jirde Hussein 
¶4.  Hon. Abdirahman Abdi Hussein 
¶5.  Hon. Ahmed Sheikh Mukhtar 
 
--NGRC shall operate within the Transitional Federal 
Charter (TFC) and in accordance with the Parliamentary 
decision reached on May 1 reference XG/182/07. 
 
--The NGRC shall only operate for the duration of the 
Congress. 
 
 
Signed 
 
Hon. Osman Elmi Boqore 
Ag. Speaker of Parliament, 
Who is also the 2nd Deputy Speaker 
 
 
End Quote 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  In essence, the resolution states that 
parliament fully supports the NGRC and its programs for the 
duration of the Congress and that the NGRC will operate in 
accordance with the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) and 
parliament's resolution of May 1.  This innocuous 
interpretation, however, does not capture the backroom 
 
NAIROBI 00002299  002 OF 002 
 
 
politicking and understandings that went into the 
resolution. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  To get a better understanding of parliament's 
intent, our political assistant contacted Information 
Minister Madobe Nunow (Digil and Mirifle Clan) in Baidoa to 
ascertain what actually transpired in parliament on May 26. 
Nunow confirmed Gedi's presence during the relevant 
deliberations and said that the MPs generally supported an 
independent NGRC.  After lengthy deliberation, the MPs 
voted 151 for and 8 against the resolution. 
 
¶6.  (C)  A journalist working for Hawiye/Abgal-owned Simba 
Radio, Yasin Mohamed, however, told us that the 
parliamentary session began amidst rumors that President 
Yusuf secretly passed a letter to parliament.  In it, he 
reportedly expressed concern that the NGRC was unexpectedly 
emerging as a third force with the full confidence and 
backing of the international community and many Somalis. 
If parliament was not clever in checking the NGRC's powers, 
there could be a major political upheaval. 
 
¶7.  (C)  According to journalist Mohamed, Gedi said in his 
opening speech "...I would not allow the NGRC to wield more 
powers than MPs, and political reconciliation is not an 
option for them to handle".  Gedi also told the 
parliamentarians that TFG organs such as the Reconciliation 
Ministry and National Reconciliation Council would play 
roles in the Congress.  He reportedly said that the MPs 
themselves are representatives of their respective 
clans/sub-clans and, as such, have the mandate to make 
final decisions on clan representation in the event of 
disputes.  According to Mohamed, Gedi went on to say that 
the NGRC mandate originated in parliament; the NGRC, 
therefore, can only operate with parliamentary approval; 
and parliament must debate the outcome of the 
Reconciliation Congress. 
 
¶8.  (C)  The MPs, accordingly, were apprehensive about NGRC 
independence, fearing that it could change the political 
climate.  In order to counter the international community's 
influence on the NGRC, the MPs reportedly agreed to the 
following but this did not appear in any parliamentary 
document: 
 
--To micromanage the NGRC by denying it the mandate to 
touch on political (power sharing) issues during the 
Reconciliation Congress; 
 
--To limit the NGRC role to social reconciliation, i.e., 
resolving inter/intra-clan conflicts, as well as land and 
property disputes; and, 
 
--To determine that it was not in the purview of the NGRC 
to bring about reconciliation between the TFG and 
opposition groups. 
 
¶9.  (C)  Comment.  There is concern among knowledgeable 
Somalis and in the international community that both Gedi 
and Yusuf may be trying to ensure control of the NGRC.  The 
resolution by the TFP expresses support for the NGRC but 
does not specifically endorse its independence.  It merely 
"supports" the NGRC within cited parameters.  Parliament is 
uneasy with the NGRC's flirtation with the international 
community and its perceived empowerment to proceed with 
political reconciliation (power sharing) and a clear 
roadmap to 2009 elections.  While parliament debated about 
the NGRC's independence, the resolution read out at the end 
of the session simply bore the title:  "Resolution 
Regarding the Approval of Names of NGRC".  There is renewed 
concern, therefore, that neither the TFG nor the parliament 
is truly interested in either political reconciliation or a 
2009 transition. 
 
¶10.  (U)  In light of the "ambiguity" of the TFG's position 
on the purpose of the NRC, the letter from A/S Frazer 
delivered to Yusuf today (5/31) is timely.  End comment. 
 
Ranneberger