VZCZCXRO0675
RR RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDJ #0005/01 0050704
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 050704Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1203
INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000005 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E 
NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/05 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER EWWT ETRD SO DJ ET
SUBJECT: VISITING SOMALILAND FOREIGN MINISTER ON SECURITY, ASWJ, AND 
BERBERA PORT 
 
REF: 09 ADDIS ABABA 2285 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: J. Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. During a January 4 meeting with Ambassador, 
visiting Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdillahi Mohamed Duale 
stressed Somaliland's ongoing focus on security threats, including 
potentially heightened targeting from al-Shabaab during upcoming 
elections.  Duale said that Somaliland was interested in increased 
information-sharing and other cooperation with Djibouti, Yemen, and 
Puntland.  Duale said that Somaliland authorities were already 
offering "safe passage and advice" to Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a (ASWJ), 
and would be interested in further developing ties with ASWJ.  On 
the economic front, Duale said that discussions with the French 
Bollore group to manage the port of Berbera were well advanced. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
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SECURITY: SHABAAB, ASWJ, AND REGIONAL COOPERATION 
 
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¶2. (C) Duale said Somaliland authorities remained extremely 
vigilant on security threats, and continued to seek greater 
cooperation and information-sharing with regional partners such as 
Djibouti, Yemen, and Puntland.  On Yemen, Duale said that 
Somaliland shared U.S. concerns on the current security situation. 
Somaliland had for some time maintained representation in Sanaa via 
a "Trade Delegation" mission staffed by five or six officials.  He 
intimated that current exchange of security information is quite 
limited.  On Puntland, Duale told Ambassador that he had recently 
hosted a group of Puntland authorities for lunch in Addis Ababa, 
and had urged greater "seriousness" and more cooperation. 
Somaliland was concerned, he said, that corruption and insufficient 
control in Puntland meant that threat information shared with its 
authorities might end up in the wrong hands.  Duale planned to stay 
several days in Djibouti, and told Ambassador that he had already 
had a long discussion with Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali 
Youssouf, and planned to meet with several other Djibouti 
ministers. 
 
 
 
¶3. (C) Duale welcomed recent approaches between Somalia's 
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a 
(ASWJ).  Some former Islamic Courts elements within the TFG, he 
noted, disagreed with ASWJ on certain questions of religious 
doctrine, and were therefore more hesitant on TFG-ASWJ 
rapprochement.  Somaliland, Duale said, was already providing ASWJ 
with "security, safe passage, and advice," although not with 
material  or financial support.  Somaliland was favorable to 
greater cooperation with ASWJ, which enjoyed widespread popular 
support.  This support, Duale explained, was primarily based on 
religious legitimacy. 
 
 
 
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ELECTIONS: "CONFIDENT" IN COMMISSION 
 
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¶4. (C) On elections, Duale said that the Electoral Commission had 
full government support, and had also gained the confidence of the 
opposition parties.  After the Electoral Commission sets a date, 
Duale said, the government would "not delay" in organizing 
elections.   In light of al-Shabaab's repeated statements that 
Somaliland's constitutional state was an "anathema" to Islamic 
principles, Somalilanders were especially mindful of increased 
danger from al-Shabaab during elections, he noted. 
 
 
 
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FRENCH BOLLORE GROUP TO MANAGE BERBERA PORT-DJIBOUTI 
 
DJIBOUTI 00000005  002 OF 002 
 
 
REPORTEDLY QUIET ON ETHIOPIAN PORT DIVERSIFICATION 
 
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¶5. (C) Somaliland and Ethiopia were now well advanced in 
discussions with the French Bollore Group on management of the port 
of Berbera, Duale said (reftel).  Ethiopia had agreed to finance 
road improvements for the Addis Ababa-Berbera route up to and even 
slightly beyond the Ethiopia-Somaliland border, Duale said. 
Somaliland would then seek international aid to improve the 
remaining road section.  Duale said that French Ambassador to 
Ethiopia Jean-Christophe Belliard had played key role in 
negotiations, and had personally travelled to and across the road 
link at the Somaliland-Ethiopia border. 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) Duale reported that Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi 
had telephoned Djiboutian President Guelleh to discuss the 
impending Bollore deal.  President Guelleh, Duale said, had 
reportedly raised no major objections to the plan.  (COMMENT. 
Djibouti's economy is heavily dependent on its Dubai Ports 
World-managed port, which derives some 85 percent of its business 
from traffic to and from Ethiopia.  Greater Ethiopian use of an 
improved port at Berbera would therefore represent a potential 
economic threat to Djibouti.  If President Guelleh indeed raised no 
objections to the Bollore deal, this may signify that Djibouti is 
confident enough in its port's competitive advantage, hopeful that 
transshipment business will pick up to replace any lost bilateral 
trade, and perhaps even mindful that Djibouti might indirectly 
benefit from the attractiveness to shipping lines of an additional 
improved port in the region.  Conversely, Djibouti's reported 
non-opposition may merely represent an acknowledgement of the 
GODJ's powerlessness to block such a deal.  END COMMENT.) 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) In contrast to the Bollore Group's serious interest, Duale 
said he had been dismayed to hear rumors that Total was considering 
pulling out of its Somaliland-based fuel farm business.  Total had 
invested in Somaliland early and at considerable risk, he noted, 
and would be foolish to abandon ship now. 
 
 
 
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COMMENT 
 
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¶8. (C) Djibouti and Somaliland-which share significant linguistic 
and clan ties-have a history of on-again-off-again relations. 
While a resurgent port at Berbera may represent a threat to 
Djiboutian economic interests, the GODJ is well aware that 
Somaliland's relative stability has long provided Djibouti with an 
important security buffer.  Djibouti and Somaliland are currently 
enjoying a warming period in bilateral relations, and-especially in 
light of increased threats from al-Shabaab-are likely to continue 
and intensify cooperation on security issues.  END COMMENT. 
SWAN