behind the scenes of uk support to somaliland: by wikileaks

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 002084 SIPDIS NOFORN EMBASSY NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA SECTION E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PBTS, PINR, SO, UK SUBJECT: SOMALIA: BEHIND THE SCENES OF UK SUPPORT TO SOMALILAND Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).

1.(C/NF) Following his mid-June visit to Somaliland, FCO Minister of State Kim Howells began questioning HMG's decision not to recognize Somaliland and started advocating internally for HMG to give greater support to Somaliland, according to FCO Somalia Research Analyst Cedric Barnes. Barnes said on August 8 he finds it highly unlikely that the UK would "unilaterally recognize" Somaliland, but that he would not be surprised if HMG becomes more proactive in its support to the unrecognized republic. In Barnes' estimation, HMG would find it too "diplomatically difficult" to recognize Somaliland because it would "annoy" many of the neighboring countries and potentially de-stabilize the Transition Federal Government (TFG) and Djibouti Agreement.

2.(C/NF) According to Barnes, Howells wrote to Foreign Secretary David Miliband upon his return from Somaliland, speaking in glowing terms about the "brilliant progress" that had been made in Somaliland, questioning HMG's policy of non-recognition, and advocating for more support. Barnes also said that the British Embassy in Addis Abba, which covers Somaliland, has long argued for HMG's recognition of Somaliland. Miliband, "taken by Howells' strong support," requested that the FCO's Africa Directorate review the policy and provide advice. The Africa Directorate pushed back aggressively, saying that recognition of Somaliland had the potential to de-stabilize the TFG and to unravel the Djibouti Agreement because of the strong nationalistic sentiments among the clans and movements in south Somalia.

3.(C/NF) MP for the Welsh constituency of Pontypridd (in greater Cardiff), Howells represents a large number of Somalilanders, whose strong historic and business ties to Wales date back to the days when Somaliland was a British Protectorate. He, along with fellow Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth Alun Michael, have been long time advocates for Somaliland. In addition to drawing political attention to Somaliland through the Parliamentary All Party Group on Somaliland, they have succeed in drawing UK development funding to Somaliland and providing more secure ways for Britain-based Somalis to send an estimated GBP 2.3 billion (USD 4.6 million) in remits to their families in Somaliland.

4.(C/NF) There is no evidence to indicate that HMG will recognize Somaliland as an independent nation, especially with HMG officials focused on promoting a foreign policy that will help stabilize south Somalia and support the Djibouti Agreement. However, it is clear that the well organized Somaliland Diaspora in the UK have captured the attention of some key political figures and have an important and noticeable influence on HMG policies on Somalia. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXXTUTTLE

Name : Dawlad
Subject : Re : behind the scenes of uk support to somaliland: by; wikileaks.
Date : 2011-02-05

SOMALILAND: LACK OF FINANCIAL SECTOR REGULATIONS INHIBITS PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks9:10PM GMT 04 Feb 2011 Ref ID: 09LONDON1303
Date: 6/2/2009 14:18
Origin: Embassy London
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Destination: 08LONDON2188
Header: VZCZCXRO8419PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRODE RUEHLO #1303 1531418ZNR UUUUU ZZHP 021418Z JUN 09FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2495INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0466RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0090RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITYRUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
Tags: EAID,PREL,EFIN,PINR,SO,UK

UNCLAS LONDON 001303 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPART FOR INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID, PREL, EFIN, PINR, SO, UK SUBJECT: SOMALILAND: LACK OF FINANCIAL SECTOR REGULATIONS INHIBITS PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT REF: 08 LONDON 2188 Somaliland's economic growth and development are hindered by having no legislative framework to regulate the financial services sector, Saad Ali Shire of Dahabshiil, the UK's largest Somalia remittances transfer firm (reftel), told Poloff June 2. He offered the following thoughts: -- The USG should press Somaliland authorities to pass legislation to regulate the financial services sector. Shire explained that Dahabshiil had paid consultants to draft legislation, in coordination with the World Bank, but Somaliland politicians had not enacted it. He said many thought it was because the Central Bank Governor and Minister of Finance fear that robust financial institutions could diminish their authority. -- The USG should work with Central Bank Governor Abdul Rahman and the Minister of Finance to "update their thinking" on management of financial services. Shire said both have a "leger-based mentality" when considering finances and would benefit from trips abroad to learn how governments should support financial services industries as engines of economic growth. On Dahabshiil's operations, Shire said that remittance transfers are down by 20 percent over the same period last year due to the decrease in strength of the British Pound and the increasing number of UK-based Somalis who are unemployed. He said Dahabshiil, an organization which Embassy London has been encouraging to offer Sharia-compliant microloans in Somaliland, offers limited financial services in Somaliland in addition to money transfer services, such as non-interest earning savings accounts. He also noted that Dahabshiil had just received a license to operate as a fully functional bank in Djibouti.

3.(SBU) Shire is very engaged in the UK's Somali Diaspora community, where he actively cultivates business relationships. He plans to travel to Somaliland in late June to undertake a comprehensive study of Somaliland's financial services sector and to encourage the Somaliland authorities to create a regulatory framework, with the hopes of enhancing Dahabshiil financial services products in Somaliland. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX LeBaron

Name : Dawlad
Subject : Re : behind the scenes of uk support to somaliland: by; wikileaks.
Date : 2011-02-05

London Wikileaks Cables.

SOMALIA/HOA: PDAS CARTER INFORMED THAT UK TO INCREASE SOMALIA ENGAGEMENT.

Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks9:10PM GMT 04 Feb 2011 Ref ID: 09LONDON1701.

Date: 7/24/2009 13:11
Origin: Embassy London
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Destination: 09LONDON1635
Header: VZCZCXRO5716PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRODE RUEHLO #1701/01 2051311ZNY CCCCC ZZHP 241311Z JUL 09FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2950INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITYRUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY.

Tags: PREL,EAID,MASS,PHUM,PINR,XW,SO,KE,ER,ET,UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 001701 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND AF/RSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019 TAGS: PREL, EAID, MASS, PHUM, PINR, XW, SO, KE, ER, ET, UK SUBJECT: SOMALIA/HOA: PDAS CARTER INFORMED THAT UK TO INCREASE SOMALIA ENGAGEMENT REF: LONDON 1635 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel McNicholas, reasons
1.4 (b/d).

1.(C) Summary. Foreign Office East Africa and Great Lakes DAS-equivalent Jonathan Allen told AF PDAS Carter July 22 that ministers decided July 21 that Somalia "matters a lot to UK interests" and the British Government should put more resources into supporting the TFG and AMISOM, as well as the regions of Somaliland and Puntland. This is a 180-degree shift from UK policy advanced by Allen's predecessor. Allen agreed the TFG should focus its efforts on Mogadishu and then increase its base from there with AMISOM's support. Stopping support to al-Shabaab is critical to the TFG's survival, and the UK supports individual named sanctions against Eritreans and broader sanctions against Eritrea, if it does not stop its support. Noting BBC Somali Service's independence, Allen agreed to look into a possible bias in its reporting. On Kenya, Allen strongly supported close U.S.-UK cooperation to move the reform agenda forward, supported by elements of the Kenya civil society and media. On Ethiopia, he agreed the 2010 elections were unlikely to be free and fair and that it was important to focus on governance as a way to make them "acceptable." He said the UK is reviewing its support to Ethiopia in September, when it will consider the decreasing political space under President Meles. End summary.

2.(C) AF PDAS Carter discussed supporting the TFG in Somalia and the Somali regions of Somaliland and Puntland, the negative role of Eritrea in Somalia, the restrictive political space in Ethiopia, and moving reform forward in Kenya with Foreign Office East Africa and Great Lakes Director Jonathan Allen, Somalia Research Analyst Cedric Barnes, and DFID East and Central Africa Head of Office John Gordon on July 22.
3.(C) Indicating a 180-degree policy shift, Allen said the UK Government had been reviewing its Somalia policy (reftel) and ministers had decided July 21 that Somalia "matters a lot to UK interests" for migration, counter terrorism (CT), and humanitarian reasons, and that the UK needs to put more resources into dealing with Somalia. Allen said the UK plans to pursue a twin track of support. First, the UK will support the TFG, which is "fragile but still the best game in town," and UN processes, primarily through AMISOM. Secondly, the UK will do more work with Somaliland and Puntland. Allen agreed that the TFG should focus on Mogadishu for now, establishing security with AMISOM's help, delivering services, and encouraging governance and accountability as much as possible. He also agreed that countering al-Shabaab would be the TFG's most important task in the near-term and that it needed more support to do that. Allen took on board the need to encourage more African states to participate in AMISOM and that it was more important to focus on building AMISOM's capacity rather than expanding its mandate. He said the UK thought bordering countries should not be involved in AMISOM, as their domestic political concerns could compete with AMISOM's mission. Carter said the USG supports AMISOM funding coming from UN assessed costs, and Gordon said the UK was leaning in that direction. It would still be critical to pressure the UN to fulfill its obligations. Eritrea and Sanctions ---------------------

4.(C) Allen said Eritrea was a spoiler, especially because of the support it supplies directly to or allows to be provided to al-Shabaab. He agreed that stopping support to al-Shabaab would be critical for the TFG's survival and said the UK supported sanctions against named Eritrean individuals. Sanctions should only go broader than that if Eritrea continues its unhelpful behavior. Allen agreed that sanctions against Eritrea would be an effective point for demarching Arab states about discouraging support that may emanate from within their borders, and he took on board that the EU's loan was not an effective form of engagement with Eritrea. He said the EU was close to turning off all its support to Eritrea. Somaliland ----------

5.(C) Allen said the UK plans "to thicken" its support to Somaliland, though the British government is not considering recognition at this stage. He conceded that the UK government would only look at recognition if south central Somalia appears to be in chaos for another 20 years, as the UK wants to support democracy in Somaliland and to continue LONDON 00001701 002 OF 003 its CT cooperation. Allen said the UK had been stressing to the Somaliland authorities the need for the September elections to take place. Carter acknowledged Somaliland's need to re-burnish its democratic credentials through an election and said that the U.S. and UK should coordinate more on Somaliland, especially on CT programming. Puntland --------

6.(C) Allen said the UK is talking to the Puntland authorities more and trying to assess the British government's ability to work with them. The Puntland President had recently been in London and "pretty much said all the right things," including on the coast guard and alternative livelihoods. Noting that the UK was under no illusion about who they were dealing with and the connection of the Puntland authorities to piracy, he said the UK was considering maritime support in particular, possibly with the EU. Allen said the risk-versus-reward relationship with piracy needs to be changed, and the best way to do that may be to bolster the Puntland's coast guard while keeping EU or UK personnel involved in all Puntland operations. Carter noted that it is also important for the international community to deal with the fishing and toxic waste dumping issues along the Puntland coast. Allen also noted that the Contact Group on Somalia had little support and interest in the international community, but that the Contact Group on piracy had lots. He suggested the U.S. and UK should work to get China and Russia more engaged on the corollary issues to piracy. Carter said the industry should be doing more and that the USG questions the effectiveness of establishing a special tribunal to deal with justice issues related to the pirates. Barnes said that while there is not currently an al-Shabaab piracy link with Puntland, it would be possible for al-Shabaab to squeeze Puntland more, if the TFG fails, and establish links with pirates. BBC Somali Service ------------------

7.(C) Carter presented Allen with the information about a possible bias in the BBC Somali Service's reporting. Allen noted that the Somali Service maintains complete independence, but agreed to look into it. Kenya -----

8.(C) Allen strongly supported the need for the U.S., UK, and international community to work together to pressure the Kenyan government on the reform agenda. He said the UK's three objectives were constitutional reform to eliminate the conflict that results in a winner-take-all system, electoral support to favor transparency and legitimacy, and SRR and police support to deal with any violence that arises. Carter also noted the importance of the Kenyan media and civil society in pressuring the government elite on accountability and reform issues. Allen agreed it was important to broaden the base of the political agenda in Kenya and said the U.S. and UK embassies cooperated well on the ground. On the violence in the wake of the previous elections, Allen said he anticipated the Kenyans would set up a special tribunal and agreed that funding for that tribunal, if requested, may be the best mechanism to ensure that it is a transparent and independent institution. ICC ---

9.(C) In light of the recent high-level African ICC cases, Carter said it was important to deal with the perception that the ICC only takes on African cases. Allen agreed. Ethiopia --------

10.(C) Allen agreed that the 2010 elections in Ethiopia would likely not be free and fair and that a focus on governance would be the only way to make them "acceptable" without disengaging Ethiopia entirely. Gordon argued that it was tough to deal with President Meles' autocratic, state-led growth policy because the social development indicators are improving. Carter noted that the Ethiopian systems that result in improved social development indicators are financed by foreign development assistance and are not sustainable. Also, Meles is increasingly reducing the political space in Ethiopia. Allen said the UK Government is reviewing its assistance programs and policy on Ethiopia in September and LONDON 00001701 003 OF 003 will be considering these issues.

11.(U) This cable was cleared by PDAS Carter. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX LeBaron

Name : Dawlad
Subject : Re : behind the scenes of uk support to somaliland: by; wikileaks.
Date : 2011-02-05

SOMALILAND: UK ASSISTANCE TO POLICE SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT AND COAST GUARD.

Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks9:04PM GMT 04 Feb 2011 Ref ID: 10LONDON339
Date: 2/12/2010 14:44
Origin: Embassy London
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Destination:
Header: VZCZCXRO2598PP RUEHROV RUEHTRODE RUEHLO #0339/01 0431444ZNY CCCCC ZZHP 121444Z FEB 10FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4954INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1539RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITYRUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITYRHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
Tags: PREL,MASS,EAID,KPIR,SO,ET,UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000339 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, PM/PPA, AND AF/RSA NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2020 TAGS: PREL, MASS, EAID, KPIR, SO, ET, UK SUBJECT: SOMALILAND: UK ASSISTANCE TO POLICE SPECIAL PROTECTION UNIT AND COAST GUARD Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville, reasons 1.4 (b/d).

1.(C) Summary. In order to increase the UK's and international community's ability to access Somaliland, the UK is funding training to the Somaliland Special Protection Unit (SPU), a branch of the police force, at the level of GBP 375,000 (USD 600,000) in the current fiscal year and GBP 230,000 (USD 368,000) in the next. The UK Ministry of Defense will conduct the first two phases of the train-the-trainer training in Ethiopia and the third, security conditions permitting, in Somaliland in an effort to reach approximately 450 police officers. Increasing its support to the Somaliland Coast Guard, the UK is working to boost capacity in coastal monitoring by providing training on monitoring, vehicles, communications equipment (which is interoperable with the land-based police) and increasing cooperation with Somaliland's land-based police in a GBP 400,000 (USD 640,000) program. Greater support may be available next year to develop the Coast Guard as an institution. Once the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has completed its assessment of Somaliland prisons, the UK will look to support in the next phase of its programming, projects to get Somaliland prisons up to international standards, thereby allowing pirates captured in international waters by international operations to be processed through the Somaliland judicial system. End summary.
Special Protection Unit Training --------------------------------

2.(C/NF) In order to increase the UK's and international community's ability to access Somaliland, the UK is providing training to the Somaliland Special Protection Unit (SPU), a branch of the police force. The UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) personnel will focus the training on 450 police officers and will implement the training in three phases. Phase one, beginning in March 2010, will train approximately 40 officers in Ethiopia for five weeks. Phase two will provide follow-on train-the-trainer training to the 20 best officers from phase one, also in Ethiopia. Phase three, dependent on the security situation at the time in Somaliland, will be conducted in Somaliland; UK MOD personnel will oversee and mentor the Somaliland trainers as they run training for the larger SPU police officer corps. Financing for the current fiscal year is approximately GBP 375,000 (USD 600,000) and for next year is GBP 230,000 (USD 368,000). FCO Counter Terrorism Department Desk Officer Ben Myers explained that the SPU was selected because they have a generally decent level of basic skills and good reputation and to allow for increased access to Somaliland for British diplomats and other members of the international community. Myers said encouraging increased international community presence on the ground for diplomatic engagement and development assistance delivery is a key objective of the training.
Coast Guard Training --------------------

3.(C/NF) By increasing its support to the Somaliland Coast Guard, the UK is working to boost capacity in coastal monitoring by providing training on monitoring, vehicles, communications equipment (which is interoperable with the land-based police), and support to increasing cooperation with Somaliland's land-based police. The coastal monitoring program is funded by the UK Department of International Development (DFID) for GBP 400,000 (USD 640,000), which is possible because the Somaliland Coast Guard is a civilian agency. The UK's support, which recently sent approximate ten individuals to a training facility in Yemen, is complimenting the work UNDP is doing with the land-based police, according to Foreign Office Security Policy Group Deputy Head Chris Holtby. Holtby explain the UK has been supporting the Somaliland Coast Guard, with its four boats, for some time as it has been helpful in picking up pirates and processing them through the Somaliland judicial system. He noted that the main objectives of UK support to the Somaliland Coast Guard are counter terrorism and regional stability, but that counter piracy capability is important as well.

4.(C/NF) In the next fiscal year, the UK is looking to continue support for the Somaliland Coast Guard through institution development of the coast guard as an organization, though final funding approval has not been LONDON 00000339 002 OF 002 given yet. Holtby explained the UK is also trying to work in support of productive linkages between the Somaliland and Puntland Coast Guards, including through meetings and possibly visits by Puntland authorities to Somaliland, to provide an incentive for the Puntland Coast Guard to perform professionally and honestly enough to receive training. He said that any work with the Puntland authorities would likely be based on best practices and lessons learned from the training and programs in Somaliland.

5.(C/NF) Holtby said he understood the Norwegians were supporting Somaliland's move to declare its territorial waters an exclusive economic zone, which would establish Somaliland's fishing rights and establish some sustainability for its coast guard by creating a revenue generation stream through taxes. It would also give Somaliland an international legal basis to police its waters.

Judicial Services -----------------

6.(C/NF) Holtby said that once the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has completed its assessment of Somaliland prisons, the UK will look to support the next phase of its programming to get Somaliland prisons up to international standards, thereby allowing pirates captured in international waters by international operations to be processed through the Somaliland judicial system. Holtby said the FCO has "amber/green" light approval for "substantial funding," but will not begin programming until UNODC is ready and the FCO's internal budget for the project has final approval. He mentioned that the European Commission may also be interested in funding the UNODC's next phase of programming. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX ed_Kingdom SUSMAN

Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks9:00PM GMT 04 Feb 2011