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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000001 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/RSA AND A/S CARSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/04 
TAGS: PGOV SO SOCI PINR KDEM
SUBJECT: Somalia -Galmuduug Presidential Crisis Resolved, Signaling 
Positive Regional and TFG Leadership 
 
REF: NAIROBI 2214 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Patterson, Counselor for Somalia Affairs, State 
Department, Somalia Unit; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.       (C) Summary: The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on 
December 28 endorsed Mohamed Ahmed Alin as President of Galmuduug 
region during an official ceremony in Mogadishu.  Alin's selection, 
following a protracted stand-off with another contender for the 
position, was the result of TFG President Sharif's decision to 
accept the recommendation of Galmuduug elders and religious 
leaders, and to abandon his own efforts to see Alin's rival for the 
office, Ahmed Sharif, installed as Galmuduug President instead. 
(Note:  In the run-up to his selection, Alin had been instrumental 
in local efforts to resolve recent fighting between the Puntland 
and south-central halves of Galcaio.  The town of Galcaio straddles 
the border between the two regions.  End note.)  The peaceful end 
to the conflict in Galmuduug is a feather in the cap of the 
Galmuduug community, which resisted the temptation to resort to 
armed conflict to resolve the crisis.  It demonstrated strong 
leadership by President Sharif, as well.  Alin's selection should 
encourage UNDP, other international community representatives, and 
Somali NGOs continue exploration of development options in the 
relatively stable region (reftel).  End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.       (C)  Somalia Unit contacts report that the conflict over 
the Galmuduug presidency was triggered when former TFG Interior 
Minister Omar in July traveled to the region and orchestrated snap 
elections that brought Ahmed Sharif to power while the then 
Galmuduug President was out of town.  (Note:  Ahmed Sharif was a 
Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) colleague of Omar's and from the 
Sa'ad clan. Contacts report that Sharif had spent much time outside 
of Galmuduug and had little popular support in the region at the 
time that Omar engineered his snap election. The Sa'ad 
clan-dominated "Galmuduug State" was the result of  a two-year, 
self-initiated and funded reconciliation process that culminated in 
the 2006 creation of a Galmuduug administration. The Administration 
remained resilient despite interruption by the Council of Islamic 
Courts' (CIC) 2006 rise to power.  The Administration consists of a 
27-member Traditional Leadership Council, a 26 member Assembly of 
Representatives, a President, a Vice-President, and a Council of 
Ministers. End note.) 
 
 
 
¶3.       (C) Local unhappiness with Omar's interference caused 
Galmuduug elders to dissolve the Assembly of Representatives, which 
had been pressured by Omar to elect Ahmed Sharif.   A 
newly-constituted Assembly, supported by clan militias and the 
Galmuduug Haul Sunni Wall Jamaal (ASWJ), in August elected Mohamed 
Alin as the new Galmuduug President. Alin, who is also from the 
Sa'ad clan, reportedly enjoyed popular support in the region and 
the support of the Galmuduug President whom Ahmed Sharif had 
displaced. Alin's August election reportedly sparked disagreement 
within the TFG.  The Prime Minister, former police commissioner 
Qeybdiid, and others supported Alin while TFG President Sharif and 
Minister Omar supported Ahmed Sharif. (Note: Qeybdiid is also from 
the Hawiye/Habr Gedir/Sa'ad subclan. End note.) 
 
 
 
¶4.       (C) In the end, TFG President Sharif accepted the verdict 
of Galmuduug elders, relevant diaspora members, and religious 
leaders and asked Ahmed Sharif to step down.  In advance of his 
decision clan elders, encouraged by the TFG Prime Minister's 
mediation efforts, had twice asked Ahmed Sharif to step down, but 
Sharif had refused.  Alin told us that the reconciliation 
committee, with growing support from the Sa'ad diaspora, in 
mid-December decided to take the issue to President Sharif. Several 
TFG officials attended the December 28 ceremony including the State 
Minister for Defense, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Water, 
the Minister of Trade, and the Minister of Diaspora Affairs. TFG 
President Sharif on December 28 received Alin at Villa Somalia and 
publicly congratulated Ahmed Sharif for stepping down. 
 
 
 
¶5.       (C)  Comment:   The peaceful resolution of this conflict 
signaled the strength of the Galmuduug community, which resisted 
 
NAIROBI 00000001  002 OF 002 
 
 
the temptation to resort to armed conflict to resolve the crisis. 
It is also a testament to President Sharif's leadership.  Alin's 
uncontested leadership should encourage UNDP, other international 
community representatives, and Somali NGOs in their recent efforts 
to explore development options in the relatively stable Galmuduug 
region. 
RANNEBERGER