VZCZCXRO1283
PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHLO #2517/01 3101343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061343Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3932
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0500
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0097
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 002517 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR USAID/AFR/EA 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/P AND S/GPI (MARY KAREN WALKER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID PGOV PINR SO UK
SUBJECT: SOMALILAND: UK DIASPORA HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR 
GOVERANCE ASSISTANCE, OFFER SUPPORT 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary. Members of the UK-based Somaliland Diaspora 
- including representatives from the three political parties, 
NGOs, and civil society organizations - told the Political 
Minister Counselor November 2 that what Somaliland needs most 
is assistance in developing governance and democracy 
institutions, especially within Parliament.  They expressed 
optimism that elections would take place, probably in early 
2010, and said that the silver-lining to the recent political 
crisis was installation of a National Electoral Commission 
(NEC) in which Somalilanders have confidence, which in turn 
will increase the level of confidence in the elections and 
its results.  They offered the support of the NGOs they 
represent as implementing partners in Somaliland, suggesting 
the Diaspora could provide a link between the international 
community and local organizations and institutions on the 
ground.  They noted that their organizations would not be in 
a position to deliver governance capacity-building programs, 
and said that is where the USG and other international 
partners could provide useful programming.  They expressed 
frustration that the UK's Department for International 
Development has not worked through the Diaspora more, as they 
felt it had promised to do.  They also offered familiar 
arguments in favor of Somaliland's recognition, saying it 
would solve many development-related problems, spur on 
democratic development, improve security in the region, and 
provide a meaningful example for south central Somalia.  DFID 
contacts said they had considered a special development fund 
for Somali Diaspora groups, but instead opted for encouraging 
UK-based Somali groups to apply for funding through the 
recently launched "The Common Ground Initiative," which aims 
to strengthen the capacity of small and Diaspora 
organizations in the UK that work in international 
development.  DFID has also recently begun publishing a 
newsletter for the Somali Diaspora in the UK.  End Summary. 
 
 
Meeting the Somaliland Diaspora 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Members of the UK-based Somaliland Diaspora met with 
the Political Minister Counselor on November 2 to express 
their views on the political situation in Somaliland, make 
suggestions for leveraging the Diaspora community, and build 
their case for statehood.  Among the representatives were the 
following:  Somaliland TV producer and KULMIYA representative 
Ahmed Adare, UDUB representative Yusuf Duale Suleiman, NGO 
Somaliland Public Affairs Committee founder Awale Elmi, UCID 
representative Asha Yusuf, Somaliland Recognition Action 
Group Chair Lulu Farah Todd, UCID representative Saeed Omer, 
Somali Youth Development Resource Center Director Ibrahim 
Yusuf Isse, Somalilander community organizer Id Hassan, 
Somali Society Europe chair Abdi Abdillahi Jibril, Somaliland 
activist Bilan Abdi Hussein Yusuf, London Somali Youth Forum 
founder (and former IVLP participant) Mohamed Hassan Aden, 
and Somali Cultural and Community Associations Director 
Mohamed Maigag. 
 
Hopeful for Early 2010 Elections 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Representatives of the three political parties 
expressed optimism that with the resolution of the National 
Electoral Commission (NEC) membership, elections would take 
place soon, but probably not until early 2010.  They 
suggested that since the previous NEC membership was so 
poorly perceived by most Somalilanders, the silver-lining to 
the political crisis was installation of a NEC in which the 
Somalilanders have confidence.  That in turn will increase 
confidence in the conduct of the polls and the results. 
 
What Somaliland Needs: Governance Capacity Building 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) NGO representatives said that what Somaliland needs 
most is developing governance and democratic institutions, 
especially within the Somaliland Parliament.  They suggested 
the USG and other international partners should focus on 
parliamentary training and accountability mechanisms within 
government because current organizations working in 
Somaliland, including the ones they represent, do not have 
the capacity to deliver these sorts of programs.  They 
 
LONDON 00002517  002 OF 002 
 
 
explained most of their organizations work in the health and 
education sectors.  This support comes in the form of members 
of the Diaspora working either as individuals or as 
organizations to deliver programs in specific areas through 
local Somaliland-based NGOs, through family/clan systems, or 
through individual connections.  They said that "hometown 
associations" (a more formalized clan-based connection 
whereby members of the same clan based in the UK support the 
communities of their clans back in Somaliland) has been 
particularly successful in setting up health clinics and 
schools. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  NGO representatives in particular expressed 
frustration that the UK government was not involving them 
more in program delivery, especially after the Department for 
International Development (DFID) did extensive consultation 
with the Somali Diaspora community about its three-year 
country development plan for Somalia in 2009.  DFID 
representatives later explained that DFID ministers decided 
not to approve a three-year plan, opting instead for a 
year-on-year plan for Somalia.  Additionally, DFID officials 
decided that given the lack of capacity in the UK Somali 
Diaspora for program delivery, DFID would not create a 
separate fund for the Somali Diaspora groups.  They are 
instead encouraging the groups to apply for funding through 
the recently launched "The Common Ground Initiative," which 
aims to strengthen the capacity of small and Diaspora 
organizations in the UK that work in international 
development in Africa.  DFID has also recently begun 
publishing a newsletter for the Somali Diaspora in the UK. 
(More on The Common Group Initiative and other programs to 
follow septel.) 
 
Recognition 
----------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) All representatives argued for Somaliland's 
recognition, highlighting its unique historical case and the 
strong legal claims to its borders.  Making familiar 
arguments, they suggested recognition would solve many of 
Somaliland's development-related problems, spur on democratic 
development, improve security in the region, and provided a 
meaningful example for south central Somalia.  They said the 
African Union would not ever make a decision about 
Somaliland's independence because there are so many 
undemocratic leaders in the AU and because individual 
countries, not multinational organizations, recognize other 
countries. 
 
Continuing the Conversations 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) They offered to establish a core group of 
Somalilanders in the UK Diaspora to continue the dialogue 
with the USG and to provide a list of UK-based organizations 
providing development assistance in Somaliland. 
 
 
Visit London's Classified Website: 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom 
 
Susman