US embassy cable - 08LONDON2837

UNCLAS LONDON 002837 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, EAID, PREF, PINR, SO, UK 
SUBJECT: SOMALILAND/SOMALIA: SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT, UK 
DIASPORA'S MAIN CONCERNS 
 
REF: A. LONDON 2080 
     B. LONDON 2188 
 
1. (SBU) In a November 8 discussion on U.S. policy in 
Somalia, Somaliland Diaspora leaders representing over twenty 
UK-based Somali organizations said that security and 
development in Somaliland are their main concerns.  They 
offered the following political and development policy 
suggestions: 
 
-- The Somaliland executive is overwhelmed by domestic and 
international security threats.  The USG should provide 
support to the police, prisons, and courts as a matter of 
priority. 
 
-- This year food prices have increased significantly, with 
the price of a sack of rice rising from USD 20 to USD 50. 
Food aid assistance and support to the agricultural sector 
would help stabilize food supplies and prices. 
 
-- Somaliland could play a useful role in helping support the 
stabilization of southern Somalia and should have 
representation and be on the agenda at regional meetings with 
the Transitional Federal Government. 
 
-- Thousands of "refugees" from southern Somalia and Ethiopia 
are in Hageysa and other major cities in Somaliland, draining 
Somaliland's meager resources and presenting a security 
liability.  As the international community terms these 
individuals "internally displaced persons," Somaliland does 
not received international aid.  The international community 
should move beyond definitions and provide support to these 
individuals and to Somaliland for hosting them. 
 
-- The younger Somaliland generation is not being trained or 
involved in governance because the Somaliland executive does 
not have a retirement age and individuals must be at least 35 
years old to contest in elections.  Establishment of a 
retirement age and lowering the minimum age requirement to 
stand in elections would involve and train younger 
Somalilanders in governance. 
 
-- More support should be given to women in government. 
Mandating a certain percentage of positions for women in all 
branches of government should be considered. 
 
2. (SBU) The Somaliland Diaspora leaders in London also 
argued that Somaliland's recognition as an independent state, 
while secondary to security and development concerns, would 
give greater access to the types of resources necessary to 
ensure security and to curb the Islamic fundamentalist threat 
from within.  "Peace needs resources," they said, and the 
only way to get adequate resources for the justice and 
education sectors, in particular, is through international 
recognition.  Some also expressed concern that the global 
economic downturn will severely limit the amount of 
remittances going into Somaliland, on which the country is 
heavily dependent. 
 
Visit London's Classified Website: 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom 
 
TUTTLE