INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Next Steps - Establishment of Somalia Joint

Published: Fri 27 Jul 2007 08:23 PM
VZCZCXYZ0010
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #4793 2082034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 272023Z JUL 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 104793
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMB ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR SO UG
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS - ESTABLISHMENT OF SOMALIA JOINT
SECURITY MECHANISM
REF: STATE 99425
1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Kampala, please
see paragraph two.
OBJECTIVES
----------
2. (SBU) Post is asked to approach the Government of Uganda
(GOU) to pursue the following objective:
-- Seek agreement to take specific actions outlined below as
the lead contingent in the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) to establish the Joint Security Mechanism (JSM) for
the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference (NRC).
BACKGROUND
----------
3. (SBU) Immediate action is needed to establish the JSM and
create a secure environment for genuine political dialogue
and reconciliation in Somalia. As the only country currently
deployed under AMISOM, the lead on this action falls to
Uganda and to the Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF)
currently deployed in Mogadishu. Specific actions needed to
achieve this objective are as follows:
-- Call a meeting at the AMISOM headquarters in Mogadishu as
soon as possible. Participants at this meeting should
include a representative from the TFG, most likely the Chief
of Police, a representative from the National Governance and
Reconciliation Committee (NGRC), and representatives from
each clan (Hawiye, Darood, Rahanweyn, and Dir) participating
in the Congress. Ethiopia (Col. Ghebre) should be invited to
participate as a liaison. AMISOM might also consider
inviting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to
attend as an observer given their role in providing
logistical support and overseeing the Rule of Law and
Security (ROLS) program.
-- At this meeting, the UPDF/AMISOM representative should ask
participants to review the existing security arrangements for
the Congress, beginning with a briefing from the TFG and
Ethiopian representatives. The UPDF should invite comments
from other representatives and help identify points of action
for follow-up (i.e., security arrangements at hotels,
agreement on VIP and bodyguard protocol).
-- The UPDF/AMISOM should ensure that the JSM meets a minimum
of once a week to review security arrangements for the
Congress, and should also meet on an as-needed basis to
coordinate the response to specific security
threats/incidents.
-- Once the equipment for the Congress arrives in Mogadishu,
AMISOM (as the chair of the JSM) should make every effort to
visit the Congress venue regularly to review security
arrangements at the Congress.
4. (SBU) The United States is actively supporting the NRC and
plans to use FY07 Supplemental peacekeeping (PKO) funds to
procure the equipment necessary to help secure the Congress
venue, including metal detectors, mobile phone signal
jammers, mine and bomb detectors, and communications
equipment. As outlined in reftel, this assistance can only
be provided via AMISOM as chair of the JSM. While AMISOM
will be able to allow the TFG security forces at the Congress
to operate some equipment, an AMISOM role in providing
oversight through the JSM is crucial.
5. (SBU) Post may also wish to use the following talking
points in their discussions with government representatives:
-- We recognize and appreciate the Uganda Peoples Defense
Force (UPDF) being the sole force contributor to AMISOM.
-- Given that the UPDF is the only force deployed under
AMISOM and Major General Karahunga is the AMISOM commander,
we need Uganda's AMISOM contingent to take the lead in
coordinating security for the National Reconciliation
Congress through the Joint Security Mechanism.
-- We further recognize that the UPDF/AMISOM cannot guarantee
nor provide security for each of the 900 participants. We
want AMISOM to not only participate, but serve as the
chairman of the JSM. As such, AMISOM needs to convene and
begin the JSM process to coordinate security for the NRC.
REPORTING DEADLINE
------------------
6. (U) Please report results of this effort via front-channel
cable to AF/RSA Mike Bittrick and AF/E Nole Garey by Tuesday,
July 31. Please include Embassy Nairobi as info addressee.
POINT OF CONTACT
----------------
7. (U) Please contact AF/E Nole Garey at (202) 647-8284 or
via e-mail for any further background information or
argumentation to meet our objectives.
RICE
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media