US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI353

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E, S/CT 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, PGOV, PHUM, SO, DJ, ET 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S FM ON SOMALIA 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA RAGSDALE.  REASONS 1.4 (B), (D), A 
ND (E) 
 
1. (C) Djibouti's Foreign Minister Ali Abdi Farah told me 
March 10, during our meeting at the Foreign Ministry, that he 
will leave tomorrow for Nairobi to attend an IGAD Council of 
Ministers meeting March 12 on Somalia. He said Djibouti's 
Somalia policy remains one of finding a workable solution to 
the divisions that continue to plague that nation.  He 
affirmed close ties of Djibouti with Somalia, and especially 
with Somaliland, but said those ties should be seen within 
the context of the familiar social and family ties that 
naturally bind Djibouti to its neighbor.  He said Djibouti's 
actions should also be viewed as having a basis in its 
concern for the continued suffering of ordinary Somalis. 
 
2. (C) Asked about possible solutions to the fractiousness 
that characterizes Somalia, FM Farah responded that the 
concept of a "federation" of entities within Somalia, rather 
than the traditional concept of a unified state might achieve 
the best result.  Tribal tensions are too intense to make 
much else workable.  He recounted historic attempts at union 
that ultimately proved unworkable.  Yet he also said the 
"stupidity" of Somalis have contributed to the absence of 
peace. 
 
3. (S) I raised the importance of Djibouti using the close 
ties it has with Somaliland to put pressure on Somaliland to 
cooperate with us in the fight against terrorism, with the 
status of three suspected terrorists at the center of the 
battle.  FM Farah said Djibouti is "willing to help" and 
asked that we convey by diplomatic note this requirement. 
(Comment:  We will hold off doing so in order to vet with 
AF/E Gaffney during her 3/14 visit the appropriate language 
and whether this is the route we want to follow.  End 
comment.) 
 
4. (C) Asked about Ethiopia's relations with Somalia (writ 
large), he said he saw no genuine interest in Ethiopia to 
peace in Somalia.  Perhaps, he said, this is a consequence of 
Ethiopia's fear of renewed conflict in the Ogaden and a 
revival of other latent problems. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  Djibouti's continued role in a Somali peace 
is buttressed by its planned presence at the March 12 
ministerial and by the hope that the role can be 
constructive.  Perhaps Embassy Nairobi can use the 
Ministerial to further press on our specific terror-related 
objectives whilte also pressing for a galvanized effort to 
nudge all the warring factions toward peace.  End comment. 
RAGSDALE