VZCZCXRO8323
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #1087 0661304
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071304Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8060
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 9169
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0218
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3930
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5159
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 4616
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1897
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1014
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2182
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1301
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1284
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2138
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 5095
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0953
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7034
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001087
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KE SO SU
SUBJECT: KENYA'S PLANS FOR IGAD MEETINGS ON SOMALIA AND
SUDAN
REF: A. SECSTATE 18712
B. NAIROBI 791
1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of
Political Affairs Thomas Amolo briefed PolCouns on Kenya's
plans as IGAD Chair to host two IGAD meetings in the coming
months. The first meeting will focus on Somalia and take
place in late April. It is likely to be a ministerial level
meeting possibly followed up with a Heads of State summit.
Prior to the meeting, Kenya plans to dispatch an MFA official
to Mogadishu to "verify what we are hearing from the
Transitional Federal Government about their reconciliation
efforts." Amolo frankly stated that Kenya's MFA does not
give automatic credence to TFG assurances on "the
inclusiveness of their approach." Amolo continued, "the
Somalia process has acquired sufficient momentum for us to
meet soon to discuss how we can best help (President) Yusuf
and gage how the AU/IGAD force is faring." Amolo said the
U.S. would be informed at least three weeks before the event
to encourage the highest possible level of USG representation.
2. (SBU) Amolo said that Kenya is also planning to host an
IGAD meeting on Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Accord. However
the timing on this meeting is uncertain. "We are proceeding
very carefully on this topic. We have held preliminary
discussions with our friends on both sides, Khartoum and
Juba. We want to hear a read out from the Assessment and
Evaluation Commission before we proceed further. We will
only convene this meeting after thorough consultations with
all concerned parties and IGAD members." From Amolo's
remarks, it appears as if the Sudan IGAD meeting will not
take place until May at the earliest, but he declined to
hazard a guess. He did not specify whether that meeting will
be at the ministerial or Heads of State level. He reiterated
assurances that the USG will receive at least three weeks
advance notice.
RANNEBERGER