VZCZCXRO7128
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHLO #2477/01 3071149
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031149Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3867
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 002477 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E (FIERST AND WALSH), AF/RSA DEPARTMENT 
FOR PM/PPA (HOPKINS), NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL MASS UK SO ET
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: PM OUTLINES TFG PLAN FOR STABILIZATION 
AND UNITY 
 
REF: LONDON 2435 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Somali Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali 
Shamarke defended the strength of the Tranistional Federal 
Government (TFG) and outlined its plans to bring unity and 
peace to Somalia in an October 28 speech in London.  The 
Prime Minister asserted that his government intends to expand 
its legitimacy by providing basic services, combating 
extremism and providing an alternative to illegal activities 
such as piracy.  He stressed the need for Somali fishing 
rights to be recognized and argued that this would provide an 
economic alternative to piracy and serve as an additional 
source of revenue for the TFG.  He further addressed the need 
for the TFG to bring unity and stabilization to all regions 
in Somalia and oversee investment and international 
relations. The PM said he would do everything within his 
power to aid the UK government in freeing the recent UK 
citizens kidnapped off the Somali coast. In a separate 
briefing for diplomats, Shamarke stressed the urgent need for 
support, including for a DDR program, as a means of winning 
"political opportunists" over to the TFG.  End Summary. 
 
TFG Plans for Stabilization and Unity 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In an October 28 speech in London, Prime Minister 
Omar Abdirashid Ali Shamarke outlined his Government's plan 
to bring stabilization and unity to Somalia.  The Prime 
Minister defended his government as "strong, determined and 
unified" and argued that implementation of its stabilization 
plan will "bring renewed unity" to all regions of the 
country.  He noted that Somalians must see a strong unified 
government and have "confidence in their alternatives" before 
the "dominant problem" of extremism will subside.  Shamarke 
admitted there were difficulties in bringing together the 
regions of Somalia but stressed that he has received support 
from the people in every region he has visited and said that 
the lives of all Somalis are "intertwined," arguing for a 
federal system. He further addressed the need for the federal 
government to oversee investment, to manage development aid, 
and to deal with the international community's concerns. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Shamarke stated that the TFG is "pulling together 
scholars" from the Diaspora community to address basic issues 
beyond security. The Prime Minister asserted that the TFG 
intends to "expand its legitimacy" by providing basic 
services.  He was optimistic in the future of government 
institutions and asserted that once "political aspects" are 
addressed, the TFG would function more efficiently. He cited 
recent difficulties handling drought conditions as an example 
of the need for a strong unified government, and noted that 
Somalia has effectively handled droughts before.  He also 
addressed the need for better education and to "educate 
against Wahhabism," asserting that we "cannot confront 
(extremism) with just guns." 
 
¶4. (SBU) In a separate briefing for diplomatic 
representatives, Shamarke said he wanted to convey a "sense 
of urgency."  A power-sharing agreement, without wider 
agreement on policy, was merely a "quick fix."  Shamarke was 
seeking support for a broader, two-year stabilization 
process.  Asked whether his government would last that long, 
Shamarke argued that "the storm is behind us."  Sharmarke 
linked the need for the government to deliver economic 
opportunity and services in order to extend its control, and 
advocated a DDR program that would encourage "political 
opportunists" to support his government.  Shamarke questioned 
why the international community viewed DDR as a "post-peace" 
program; in his view, it was needed earlier. 
 
Extremism 
--------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Shamarke focused his remarks on the need to provide 
an economic alternative to extremism and piracy.  He noted 
that while Al Qaeda and like groups recruit actively in 
Somalia, the majority of extremists come to Somalia from 
abroad seeking a "Jihadi haven."  He suggested that the most 
effective way to eliminate extremism is through tackling 
poverty and the "lack of governance."  The PM suggested that 
the Somali insurgency is strong but not "invincible." 
 
¶6. (SBU) Shamarke told diplomatic representatives that 
Al-Shabab's movement was divided into three groups:  a) core 
advocates, with a broad agenda beyond Somalia's borders; b) 
"political opportunists" who could change if provided with 
economic opportunities; and c) those with foreign 
 
LONDON 00002477  002 OF 002 
 
 
affiliations.  For groups a and c, the only solution was a 
military one. Pressed on relations with Somaliland, Shamarke 
said he was seeking stronger ties, though it was a "difficult 
period."  But while the two differed on their views of 
Somalia's future, over the long term their interests were 
intertwined. Shamarke suggested the "best hope" was a federal 
system that protected local identities. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Pressed on relations with Ethiopia, Shamarke told 
diplomatic representatives that intervention would only 
complicate the situation.  Somalia had not requested it, and 
had no intention of doing so.  However, the two shared a long 
border, and it was in Ethiopia's interest to have a stable 
Somalia; the insurgency was targeting not only Somalia, but 
also Ethiopia, and Yemen.  Shamarke noted military training 
opportunities, but stressed that he wanted to have the 
capacity for training Somalia's forces in-country. 
 
Piracy and Fishing Rights 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Shamarke downplayed the importance of piracy, 
asserting that it was merely a "criminal activity" caused by 
a lack of economic alternatives.  He further asserted that 
piracy is "not just caused by Somalia" but that the "huge 
amount of illegal fishing" off Somalia's coast "drives people 
to piracy." He suggested the TFG needs an ability to regulate 
its coastal waters and noted that fishing is "the way out of 
poverty" for his country, emphasizing its economic importance 
for both individuals and the TFG.  He suggested that the 
amount of revenue lost in taxes on fishing rights is "ten 
times the cost of our plan for stabilization" and that the 
"lack of respect" for Somali fishing rights was a significant 
hindrance to progress in his country. The PM said he would do 
everything within his power to aid the UK government in 
freeing the recent UK citizens kidnapped off the Somali 
coast, a promise subsequently covered by UK media. 
 
International Support and Investment 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) Shamarke stressed the importance of investment for 
Somalia, stating that "we seek investors, not donations." 
The PM acknowledged the TFG's need for the assistance of the 
international community, specifically mentioning support from 
the EU in Brussels, which was the next stop on his trip. He 
addressed difficulties the international community faces in 
supporting his government and cited the image left by his 
predecessors as his biggest obstacle.  He highlighted the 
need for stability in Somalia and stated that the "cost of 
doing nothing is far greater than assisting the government." 
Although he welcomed the assistance of AMISOM, he warned that 
"we do not want to be policed from afar" by those who do not 
understand Somalia's difficulties. 
 
 
Visit London's Classified Website: 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom 
 
LeBaron