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US accused of covert operations in Somalia
Emails suggest that the CIA knew of plans by private military companies to breach UN rules
- The Observer,
- Sunday September 10 2006
- Article history
Dramatic evidence that America is involved in illegal mercenary operations in east Africa has emerged in a string of confidential
emails seen by The Observer. The leaked communications between US
private military companies suggest the CIA had knowledge of the plans
to run covert military operations inside Somalia - against UN rulings -
and they hint at involvement of British security firms. The emails, dated June this year, reveal how US firms have been
planning undercover missions in support of President Abdullahi Yusuf's
transitional federal government - founded with UN backing in 2004 -
against the Supreme Islamic Courts Council - a radical Muslim militia
which took control of Mogadishu, the country's capital, also in June
promising national unity under Sharia law. Evidence of foreign involvement in the conflict would not only
breach the UN arms embargo but could destabilise the entire region. One email dated Friday, 16 June, is from Michele Ballarin, chief
executive of Select Armor - a US military firm based in Virginia.
Ballarin's email was sent to a number of individuals including Chris
Farina of the Florida-based military company ATS Worldwide. Ballarin said: 'Boys: Successful meeting with President Abdullay
Yussef [sic] and his chief staff personnel in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday
... where he invited us to his private hotel suite flacked by security
detail ... He has appointed is chief of presidential protocol as our go
to during this phase.' She refers to one 'closed-door meeting' with a senior UN figure
and mentions there are 'a number of Brit security firms' also looking
to get involved. Ballarin claimed she has been given 'carte blanche' to use three bases in Somalia 'and the air access to reach them'.
She then suggests that the CIA have been kept informed of the
plans. Ballarin states: 'My contact whom we discussed from the agency
side requested an in-person meeting with me. I arrived in New York at
2340 last night and was driven to Virginia - arriving at 0200 today.' According to the highly respected newsletter, Africa
Confidential, which originally published extracts of the emails last
week, Select Armor started its operation planning in Kampala, Uganda.
The emails suggest that the Ugandan government were willing to help
secure arms supplies for any operation although this is denied by
security officials in Kampala. In one reply to Ballarin, Farina said: 'A forced entry operation
[into Mogadishu] at this point without the addition of follow-on forces
who can capitalise on the momentum/initiative of the initial op will
result in a replay of Dien Bien Phu'. This is a reference to the defeat
of French colonial forces in Indochina in 1953.
The website of Farina's company ATS boasts it 'can execute
operations in support of host national indigenous forces'. ATS claims
it uses former US and British special operations personnel.
operations in support of host national indigenous forces'. ATS claims
it uses former US and British special operations personnel.
One email discussing funding of any operation sent from Farina
to Ballarin states: 'We may have to re-focus our efforts in the US
among the DOS [State Department] and DOD [Defence Department] to bring
any forward movement to this effort.'
to Ballarin states: 'We may have to re-focus our efforts in the US
among the DOS [State Department] and DOD [Defence Department] to bring
any forward movement to this effort.'
The Observer left several messages with both Select and ATS
requesting interviews but nobody responded. Ballarin told Africa
Confidential last week that the company's operations in Somalia were
'classified'.
requesting interviews but nobody responded. Ballarin told Africa
Confidential last week that the company's operations in Somalia were
'classified'.
US accused of covert operations in Somalia
This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday September 10 2006 on p35 of the World news section. It was last updated at 01:02 on September 10 2006.