US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI136

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA/SOMALILAND WATCHER 
PRETORIA PASS TO JOHANNESBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, DJ, SO 
SUBJECT: SOMALILAND FM ON MARGINS OF KAHIN'S DJIBOUTI STOP: 
SEEKS WASHINGTON VISIT 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 121 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) Somaliland President Daher Rayaleh Kahin, accompanied 
by his Foreign Minister Edna Adan Ismail, and other 
ministers, were in Djibouti February 12 and morning of 
February 13 for talks with Djiboutian officials, including 
President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Prime Minister Dileita 
Mohamed Dileita.  Ambassador met with FM Ismail at the 
Sheraton Hotel evening of February 12 and heard her describe 
the just-concluded South African leg of the group's travel as 
the outcome of a long-standing invitation from the ruling 
African National Congress (ANC) party. There were no meetings 
with President Thabo Mbeki or with Foreign Minister Nkosazana 
Zuma, but there were extended briefings to the ANC on the 
situation in Somalia and Somaliland.  In addition, the party 
met with Professor Iqbal Jhazbhay, a contact Ambassador 
cultivated during an earlier tour in Pretoria, who has 
written on Islam and on Somali issues.  Jhazbhay has been 
designated as Honorary Consul for Somaliland in South Africa. 
 FM Ismail also took advantage of the South African visit to 
conduct some speaking engagements to talk about Somaliland's 
"growing democracy." 
 
2. (C) The return visit to Djibouti included the meeting and 
follow-on lunch with President Guelleh and Prime Minister 
Dileita.  The visit also included a private audience for 
Ismail with Djibouti's First Lady.  Ismail said the 
relationship with Djibouti is growing closer and stronger. 
(See Ref)  The border between the two countries has 
re-opened, there is free flow of traffic, agreement on travel 
of Somalilanders to Djibouti using Somaliland passports and 
greater cross-border cooperation, especially on security 
matters and contraband interdiction.  Djibouti has  provided 
office accommodations and furnishings for a Somaliland office 
in Djibouti and plans to send a representative "soon" to 
Somaliland. 
 
3. (C) FM Ismail said she "sensed disillusionment" on the 
part of Guelleh with the situation in Somalia and that he is 
seeing "value" in closer ties with Somaliland.  Yet, she 
admitted, Guelleh is "very careful" in the words he selects 
to use with her government. She spoke positively of Guelleh's 
commitment to peace in Somalia and praised the role of 
Djibouti's Foreign Minister Ali Abdi Farah in the process. 
She did not indicate that any new ground was broken in the 
current visit other than to further cooperation. 
 
4. (C) FM Ismail noted that while she and her President were 
in Ethiopia, they had approached the African Union (AU) to 
ask that an AU delegation visit and assess the Republic of 
Somaliland and its democratization process.  This was 
approved, and the delegation is set to arrive in Somaliland, 
according to Ismail, "towards the end of February or the 
beginning of March."  She did not have information on the 
composition of this delegation. 
 
5. (C) Ambassador took the opportunity of the meeting to 
raise with FM Ismail the points conveyed in Garey and Zorick 
e-mails of 2/11/05.  Following are responses/reactions from 
FM Ismail: 
 
-- On parliamentary elections, Somaliland needs to be certain 
of those eligible to vote. It needs more complete rosters to 
identify, for example, tribal affiliations in order to 
achieve a more democratic process.  If there is any delay in 
holding of elections, it will be a delay of only a month or 
so to assure these matters are resolved.  The constitution 
does allow for such a delay. 
 
-- On the matter of Zam Zam Dualeh, the human rights 
accusations made by Ms. Dualeh are unfounded.  Extensive 
follow-up, including independent medical examinations by 
Dualeh's clan physician, and FM Ismail's personal visit with 
Dualeh revealed no abuse of the type alleged.  Ms. Dualeh 
appears to have mental problems that have also been confirmed 
by Ms. Dualeh's mother -- who resided with her in the prison. 
 Ms. Dualeh likely has a political agenda fueled by her clan 
affiliation with Abdillahi Yusuf.  Although released from 
prison, she continues to cause unjustifiable difficulties for 
Somaliland by her allegations to the press, Amnesty 
International, and western governments.  Ms. Dualeh was 
arrested because she behaved in a way that was threatening to 
a Somaliland official, including camping out in front of the 
official's home, claiming falsely to be a relative, and 
making available a photograph of herself in guerrilla gear. 
 
-- On the admonishment that Somaliland should avoid publicly 
criticizing the TNG, it has been unnecessary for Somaliland 
to speak publicly against the TNG because the TNG "is saying 
it all themselves by their actions." FM Ismail said she will 
continue to point out, however, that Somaliland is building 
and improving its democracy. 
 
6. (C) Request from FM:  FM Ismail asked that Ambassador 
convey to the Department of State her desire "to be invited" 
to visit Washington soonest to "meet with the new team."  She 
said an "invitation" would help make the case to Kahin for 
such a visit and ensure a firm program.  (It is unclear who 
would be expected to finance such a visit.)  Embassy is 
prepared to convey Washington's response via Somaliland's 
representative in Djibouti, if Department desires. 
RAGSDALE