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United States Department of State (Washington, DC)

Somalia: Background Briefing on U.S. Assistance to the Transitional Federal Government

27 June 2009

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(Page 3 of 4)

QUESTION:  Are you providing logistical support?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  We are not providing any logistical support to the TFG, but we have, in fact, provided logistical support to move the Burundians and the Ugandans in and outside of Mogadishu.  And we have assisted them from the very beginning in their efforts to provide support to the TFG.

QUESTION:  And then just lastly on the issue of the kind of timing, I mean, how concerned were you – are you or were you that al-Shabaab was on the verge of completely taking over Mogadishu and about fears that – I mean, I think Panetta made some comments this week that about fears that al-Qaida could be the next safe haven, that it could be the next safe haven for al-Qaida.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  I haven’t seen Director Panetta’s statement, but let me say that we remain concerned about the prospects of an al-Shabaab victory, and we want to do as much as we can to help the TFG, the AMISOM forces, and the countries in the region to deal with a threat that impacts Somalia, the region, and the international community.  We think that it’s important that the TFG be given an opportunity to establish stability and peace in the south and be able to deliver services to the people there.

A government run by al-Shabaab would be a government that would likely generate greater instability in the country, carrying out more of the atrocities and human rights violations, and would probably contribute to the continued instability and concerns that we have about providing a safe haven for global terrorists like Fazul Harun and Ali Nabhan, who were responsible for the 2002 bombings.

I draw your attention to what a Shabaab government would mean for Somalia by noting that the press carries today the draconian judicial – if one can call it judicial – procedures that they’re prepared to employ.  For robbers, they will cut off the hand and the foot of those who violate their strict Sharia law.  Somalia has always been a Muslim country, but it has practiced a moderate form of Sufi Islam.  The kind of Sharia, the kind of Islam that al-Shabaab would practice is generally anathema to most Somalis.

QUESTION:  (Inaudible) if I could.

QUESTION:  I’m sorry, go ahead.

QUESTION:  The first is who decided to provide the arms and training?  Was that Secretary Clinton or the President?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  It was a national decision.

QUESTION:  We had in our story it was made at the highest level, so I would assume that means the President.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yeah, the – it was a national decision.

QUESTION:  Why can’t you say --

QUESTION:  It was not the President?

QUESTION:  Why can’t you say who that is, it’s expenditure of American taxpayer funds?  It’s not a covert act.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yeah, no, the – no, no, it’s not.  And it’s – and the Secretary and the NSC agreed to this, yes.

QUESTION:  And she has the authority; it doesn't have to be presidential authority; the authority has been delegated to her to --

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yes, and we have been – as I said, we have been supporting the Djibouti process.  We have supported for the last nearly two years the Ugandans and the Burundians as they have been on the ground defending the TFG leadership, defending the parliament, defending the presidential palace, defending the main port, and defending of the main airport.  And the extension of funding directly to the TFG is consistent with our efforts and support to help the TFG as much as possible to gain stability in the region.

QUESTION:  And if I could just clarify – it’s a simple question.  The training is not being done by U.S. --

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  No, there’s – let me just --

QUESTION:  -- police or contractors or military or anything?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Let me be clear.  There are no U.S. active duty or reserve military forces in Somalia, operating in Somalia, or acting on behalf of this.

QUESTION:  Are they doing it in neighboring – are they doing it in neighboring countries?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  No, no.

QUESTION:  And does Djibouti have a role in training?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yes, they have assisted from time to time, but we --

QUESTION:  In what respect?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  But I can’t – I don’t know the details, precisely what they’ve been doing, but no – this is not been regular U.S. military forces engaged and involved in this.

QUESTION:  How much money has been set aside?  You’ve said some money has been set aside to train the TFG.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  That’s right.

QUESTION:  Again, I’ll be the money guy and ask.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yeah, we’re looking at a – at figures including arms and ammunition and training of less than $10 million.

QUESTION:  (Inaudible) the training and the ammunition (inaudible).

QUESTION:  Oh, it’s all included, the training and the munitions --

MR. KELLY:  Libby, you have the last question.

QUESTION:  Yeah, just to follow up on Elise’s question about al-Qaida, what can you tell us about – you mentioned there’s a, you know, a small number of individuals that have safe haven in Somalia.  But how concerned are you about al-Qaida having a footprint there and their setting their sights on Somalia, especially if the U.S. forces in Afghanistan do have more success driving them out?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL:  Yeah, don’t question it.  It remains an important concern of the U.S. Government.  The most important concern, however, is to be able to capture the individuals who were involved in terrorist acts in 2002 and in 1998.  We do not want to see Somalia become a safe haven for foreign terrorists, and we believe that one of the best ways to prevent that is to help the TFG establish itself as a strong, legitimate government capable of enforcing its laws, protecting its borders, and arresting individuals who are working against them as well as against us and others in the international community.

The best way to do that is to help create a more viable Somali state which is not a threat to its people and not a threat to its neighbors, not a threat to international shipping, and not a threat to us in terms of harboring terrorists.

QUESTION:  Would you say that --

QUESTION:  Are they really moving over from Afghanistan and Pakistan?

MR. KELLY:  I think that Mr. Senior Administration Official is just about --

QUESTION:  But are they already (inaudible) over?

QUESTION:  Well, this actually – I mean, this is an important point.  I mean, do you – there

was some – during the Bush Administration, there was talk about –an effort to kind of engage the Islamicists.  I mean, is that over?  Have you completely given up on talking to al-Shabaab and trying to form some kind of accommodation?  I mean, even though you’re giving these guys ammo and you’ve been doing – you’ve been supporting them for two years, they don’t seem to be able to kind of consolidate their power.  So I mean, is there any kind of accommodation to be made?

QUESTION:  Is there any hope for a reconciliation there?

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