SOMALIA -- COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002452

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER AND DS FOR A/S RJ GRIFFIN, DS
Director Greg Starr, and DS/IP/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA -- COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST

REFS: A) RSO emails to DS Dated June 09, 2007 B) NAIROBI

2406 C) MSD Operational Plan for Travel of A/S Frazer to
Baidoa April 07, 2007

Classified by: Political Officer Mitch Benedict, for reasons 1.4 (d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See para 5.


2. (S/NF) As described in current threat assessments,
travel of USG personnel into Somalia, particularly in
Mogadishu, remains problematic (Ref A). However,
attendance by an appropriately high level USG official at
the opening of Somalia's National Reconciliation Congress
(NRC) is vital to demonstrate USG support for the
transitional process and to promote peace and stability in
Somalia (Ref B). The policy imperative of attending the
opening of the NRC (now likely to be o/a June 30) dictates
that such travel be undertaken by the Ambassador or Special
Envoy John Yates while addressing prudent risk and through
appropriate DS measures. The Ambassador recommends and
fully supports travel into Somalia for the purposes and
intents described herein, and requests Department approval
for USG travel to attend the opening ceremony of the NRC.


3. (S/NF) Travel of U.S. personnel for the NRC opening
would be a day trip only. However, the Ambassador supports
and also requests that the Department approve the travel of
two locally engaged Kenyan national employees (both of whom
are ethnic Somalis fluent in the Somalia language) to the
NRC to remain for longer periods of time in order to report
on progress and developments at the NRC. The Ambassador is
fully cognizant of the inherent danger of official USG
travel to Mogadishu at this time. However, he has
determined that this travel, to participate in the NRC,
which will begin o/a June 30 and last for approximately two
months, is absolutely vital and essential to the
advancement of policy.


4. (S/NF) Ideally such travel should have U.S. military
support to address air safety issues. If that is not
possible, low profile contract air services may be engaged.
On ground security would be addressed through DS mechanisms
coupled with tHSB.>jEx/upport te
closely with the United Nations Department of Safety and
Security - Somalia (UNDSS-Somalia) in Nairobi, and with
AMISOM, TFG and Ethiopian elements inside Somalia, to
ensure appropriate assistance and support for this proposed
travel.

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Action Request
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5. (S/NF) Pending Department approval, it is imperative
that appropriate steps be taken and measures implemented by
DS to provide requisite security support for such travel to
mitigate the threat to an acceptable level of prudent risk.
Embassy Nairobi requests that DS deploy agents from Mobile
Security Deployments (MSD) to Nairobi ASAP, in order to
commence liaison, coordination and operational planning for
this proposed travel, and to formulate a comprehensive
security plan for Mogadishu travel, paralleling the A/S
Frazer trip to Baidoa earlier this year (Ref C).

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TDY Support Needed
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6. (S/NF) A TDY Somalia Coordinator should also be
deployed with the MSD team. This position should be
continuously staffed on a TDY basis until a permanently
assigned officer is identified and sent to Nairobi. This
position should be permanently filled ASAP by DS for
continued assistance, coordination and continuity of
operations in all areas and on all topics dealing with
Somalia. The RSO office is already understaffed and does
not have the capability to provide full time support for
Somalia operations.

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Threat Assessment and Security Plan
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7. (S/NF) RSO has previously forwarded, via classified e-
mails to DS/IP/AF, the latest threat assessment for
proposed travel to Mogadishu at this time, and the UNDSS-

NAIROBI 00002452 002 OF 002


Somalia security arrangements for the recent day-travel of
UN VIP personnel to that location. Both these documents
should be referenced by DS in conjunction with this request
cable.

RANNEBERGER