Making an Impression in

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000972

SIPDIS

Sensitive

State for AF, AF/E, AF/PD;
London/Paris for Africa Watcher

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO PGOV SCUL DJ
SUBJECT: Making an Impression in
the Muslim Community



1. (U) Souguah Mohamed, Director of Al Biri,
a conservative Muslim social service
organization, recently complimented Post for
its proactive and sensitive dealings with
both the conservative Muslim community and
the nation's underprivileged in the time
since Post's primary positions (Ambassador,
USAID director, Pol/Econ, PD, Cons) became
"staffed by women." Mohamed said that he was
impressed by the Embassy's involvement in
the community and its concern with society's
most vulnerable over the past two years.
Post sees this as an indicator of changing
attitudes and a sign that its hands-on,
person-to-person public diplomacy strategy
is making effective inroads with target
communities.


2. (U) On September 28, PD officer met with
Souguah Mohamed and Mohamed Robleh, Al
Biri's general secretary, at the Embassy's
initiative to discuss the possibility of the
Embassy making a Ramadan donation for the
city's poor. During the conversation,
Souguah Mohamed mentioned relations with the
community at large have improved, which he
believed was connected to women having
positions of power at the Embassy. Mohamed
also said that the organization values its
relationship with the Embassy.

COMMENT: This is noteworthy as women hold
only traditional roles within Al Biri. We
note, however, that Post has also make a
strong comment to reach out to Djibouti's
most vulnerable communities END COMMENT.


3. (U) Mohamed's remarks reflect similar
attitudes observed in Post's "oral nights,"
held in English schools throughout the city.
Although students in the groups have not
linked these attitudes to the presence of
female staff in the Embassy, they have
commented on their overwhelming appreciation
of the willingness of Americans to spend
time with and in communities located in the
less prosperous areas of the city.


4. (U) Last year Post funded equipment for a
women's only fitness room at Al Biri. In
addition, the Association provided a speaker
for a Ramadan information program that Post
held for supervisors from both the US
Military and the Embassy. Post sees the
relationship with Al Biri as a good conduit
into both religiously conservative and poor
communities, which is why Post approached
the organization with its desire to make a
Ramadan contribution.


5. (U) Post and Al Biri decided that the
best, most-effective method of Ramadan
outreach was for Post to sponsor a number of
poor families for the holiday by giving Al
Biri a grant to be used for food staples to
include beans, oil and rice. The families
will be chosen from a standing list the
Association keeps of needy Djiboutians and
names will be screened by the Embassy. The
Ambassador will preside over a grant
ceremony and members of families who will
benefit will be present.


6. (SBU) Comment: Post expects that the
public cooperation between Al Biri and
Post's charitable contributions during
Islam's holiest month will be a positive
example contradicting extremist messages
that the US is evil and/or anti-Islam. These
conversations with Al Biri, as well as
attitudes gleaned from the English oral
nights, indicate that indeed Post is meeting
with success in its extended outreach
campaign. END COMMENT