US embassy cable - 05SANAA2365

S E C R E T SANAA 002365 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, PTER, KAWC, PINR, SO, YM 
SUBJECT: DFM ADMITS ROYG VIOLATED SOMALI ARMS EMBARGO 
 
REF: SANAA 2123 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (S/NF) Summary: On August 10, DFM Noman briefed Ambassador 
on a UNSC investigation into allegations of ROYG infractions 
against the Somali arms embargo. MOI Alimi followed up on 
August 14, underlining ROYG concerns that Somalia will be 
over-run by Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups unless 
Yusuf's attempt to establish a government succeeds.  End 
Summary 
 
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ROYG ARMS SHIPMENT TO SOMALIA 
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2.  (S) During a meeting urgently requested by MFA, Deputy 
Foreign Minister Noman informed Ambassador that two UN 
officials were currently in Yemen to investigate reports that 
the ROYG shipped arms to Somalia in contravention of the UN 
arms embargo.  In an effort to maintain "transparency," Noman 
admitted that the ROYG shipped 5,000 Kalashnikovs to 
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Abdullahi 
Yusuf Ahmed following a personal request from Yusuf to 
President Saleh during the June OIC conference in Sanaa. 
 
3.  (S) In addition to arms, ROYG sent $250,000 in cash, 
ammunition, uniforms and a three month supply of food for 
5,000 troops. A military plane delivered the shipment to an 
unknown location outside of Mogadishu.  Yusuf requested 
additional support, but due to financial limitations the ROYG 
could provide nothing else. 
 
4.  (S) Noman expects the report will be submitted for 
translation shortly, before being presented to the Security 
Council at the end of September.  The ROYG believes, he 
continued, that the official shipment of arms to Yusuf was 
not an infraction, as the arms are in support of the 
recognized Somali president in his attempt to "reinstate the 
authority of the government of Somalia."  Noman hoped the 
disclosure of the shipment would be seen as a "sign of 
transparency" and requested USG assistance to mitigate the 
negative effects of the report's release.  The report should 
be seen, he added, as an attempt to support the legal 
government of Somalia and not as an attempt to fuel arms 
trafficking and destabilize the region. 
 
5.  (S) Comment:  Any arms shipment from Yemen to Somalia is 
a clear violation of the embargo and will undoubtedly be 
included in the final report.  Willingness to disclose the 
arms shipment before the report is submitted is an indication 
the ROYG's concern with negative fall-out, particularly in 
light of Saleh's upcoming visit to the U.S. in November.  The 
ROYG has expressed to us repeatedly Yemeni concern that the 
failure of Yusuf to establish himself in Mogadishu would be 
disastrous not only to Somalia but also to Yemen and the 
region. Ambassador told both DFM Noman and MOI Alimi that 
arms shipment to any faction in Somalia was a clear violation 
of the UN arms embargo.  ROYG could expect to be sanctioned 
by UNSC committee in September, and should not expect any 
sympathy or support from Washington. Post will continue to 
press the ROYG to end destabilizing arms shipments and 
maintain a constructive role in the peace process.  End 
Comment. 
 
 
 
 
Krajeski