Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09NAIROBI7, SOMALIA - PUNTLAND PARLIAMENT SEATED, YUSUF NEUTRAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09NAIROBI7.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09NAIROBI7 2009-01-02 14:13 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Nairobi
VZCZCXRO8741
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #0007 0021413
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021413Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8114
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEPVAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA  IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 7455
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PINR SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PUNTLAND PARLIAMENT SEATED, YUSUF NEUTRAL 
 
REF: 08 NAIROBI 2899 
 
1.  Summary:  The semi-automous region of Puntland's 66 new 
legislators were sworn in on January 1 in Garowe.  They will 
spend the next week being courted by candidates for the 
presidency of Puntland.  The MPs are scheduled to elect a 
President on January 8.  Recently-resigned Transitional 
Federal Government (TFG) President Abdullahi Yusuf spoke at 
the January 1 swearing-in ceremony, underlining his 
neutrality in the race, and hoping for a peaceful and 
undisputed outcome.  Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan 
Abshir Farah, who was a strong candidate for the Puntland 
presidency, has withdrawn from the race.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
Puntland Parliament Seated 
-------------------------- 
 
2. Puntland's Ratification Commission on December 30 
announced the selection of the 66 new Members of Parliament. 
The Commission's chairman stated that each representative had 
the full support of his elders (reftel).  A loose collective 
of opposition candidates protested the slate of MPs, claiming 
that all were allies of incumbent Puntland President Mohamud 
"Adde" Muse Hersi.  The opposition reportedly threatened to 
hold demonstrations throughout Puntland, but those protests 
did not materialize.  The new MPs were sworn in on January 1 
at Garowe's Parliament House.  The new MPs will elect a 
Speaker in the next few days, and on January 8 will elect the 
new President of Puntland.  One contact stated that the new 
MPs will have a very busy week as each of the candidates for 
the Puntland presidency will work overtime to gain their 
favor (reftel). 
 
------------------------------- 
Yusuf Declares Himself Neutral, 
Meets Opposition 
------------------------------- 
 
3. Recently-resigned Transitional Federal Government (TFG) 
President Abdullahi Yusuf, who himself had formerly been 
President of Puntland, spoke at the January 1 swearing-in 
ceremony, declaring himself neutral in the race. He hoped the 
MPs would select the best candidate, regardless of clan 
affiliation.  In an apparent reference to the disputed 
outcome of an earlier election in which he had clashed with 
opponent Ali Jama before ultimately taking office, Yusuf 
urged all Puntlanders to work to avoid a repeat "of what 
happened in 2001." 
 
4. Earlier in the week, Yusuf met with the opposition 
candidates, who reportedly attempted to elicit his election 
preferences. They also offered a long list of complaints 
about the new MPs.  According to the opposition candidates, 
their six-hour meeting yielded a promise from Yusuf that he 
would remain neutral.  The head of the opposition claimed 
Yusuf promised to "work as a man of peace." 
 
----------------------------- 
Incumbent Urges Fair Election 
----------------------------- 
 
5. Current President Mohamud "Adde" Muse Hersi also spoke, 
congratulating the new MPs and thanking Yusuf for his 
participation in the ceremony.  Muse added that the new MPs 
should work to move Puntland toward "full democracy." 
 
---------------- 
Abshir Drops Out 
---------------- 
 
6. Hassan Abshir Farah, formerly Prime Minister of Somalia 
and a strong candidate in the current contest for President 
of Puntland, dropped out of the race on December 31.  Farah 
cited the multitude of candidates, including several from his 
Nugal region, as his reason for withdrawing.  However, 
contacts speculate that Abshir is positioning himself for a 
run at the presidency of the TFG. 
RANNEBERGER