Cablegate: Usun Guidance: Somalia Monitoring Group
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #5446 1962314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 142304Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2473
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 8498
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0941
UNCLAS STATE 075446
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PHUM PREL SO XA XW UNSC
SUBJECT: USUN GUIDANCE: SOMALIA MONITORING GROUP
REF: USUN 618
1. Somalia UN Mission Charge Idd Mohamed has raised his
opposition to the appointment of Matt Bryden as chair of the
Monitoring Group for the UNSC Somalia Sanctions Committee
multiple times, including by Press Release. U.S. Special
Envoy Yates previously spoke with the Somali Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) Prime Minister Hussein to discuss
their concerns. PM Hussein indicated that Mohamed was
not/not acting under orders of the TFG and any communications
protesting against Bryden,s appointment, such as the Somali
UN Mission's letter to the UNSC Presidency or subsequent
Press Release, do not represent the TFG position.
2. Department does not consider credible Mohamed's claims
that the TFG would: cease all cooperation and
information-sharing with the Monitoring Group (MG); refuse to
issue visas to Bryden and other MG members; and urge
Somalia's neighbors to curtail cooperation. The Bureau of
African Affairs confirms that this issue was not/not raised
during A/S Frazer,s meeting with TFG President Abdullahi
Yusuf Ahmed at the African Union Summit in Sharm el Sheikh as
asserted by Mohamed. Given Mohamed,s misinterpretation of
facts on this and previous occasions, any subsequent
assertions by Mohamed should be received with caution.
3. Department will continue to follow-up with the TFG to
ensure MG will receive their cooperation. It is expected
that Mohamed will continue to raise objections to Matt
Bryden's role as Coordinator of the Somalia Monitoring Group.
However, as Mohamed does not appear to be acting on
instructions from Mogadishu, USUN's best response would be to
receive Mohamed demarches without comment. USUN may also
wish to inform other UNSC Somalia Sanctions Committee members
that we have consulted with the TFG leadership and they do
not object to Bryden's role as Coordinator of the Monitoring
Group.
4. Department appreciates Mission's efforts.
RICE