Somaliland: Revised Travel Request for US Mission Officers -

S E C R E T NAIROBI 002057 SIPDIS FOR M, ACTING A/S STARR, AND A/S FRAZER FROM AMBASSADOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018 TAGS: OTRA PREL ASEC PTER MOPS SO SUBJECT: Somaliland: Revised Travel Request for US Mission Officers - New Date Classified by PolOff Jessica Davis Ba for reasons 1.4 (b,d) REF: A) Nairobi 2012 B) Nairobi 1746 C) State 85545 D) RSO email to DS dated 7/14/08 -------------- Revised Travel Request -------------- ¶1. (S) This is a revised country clearance request for travel to Hargeisa, Somaliland (Ref A and B). Per Ref C, the Department approved the travel for August 7. Post requests clearance for US Mission officers to travel to Hargeisa, Somaliland on September 9. The travel and security plan remain as detailed in Ref A and B, only the date of travel has changed. The purpose of the trip remains the same as outlined in reftels. Proposed officers include: -- Jessica Davis Ba, State Department Political/Economic Officer for Somalia -- Hodan Hassan, USAID/East Africa Somalia Program Advisor -- Kory Hammond, Assistant Regional Security Officer -- Michael Fogarty, Assistant Regional Security Officer ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Ranneberger, DCM Slutz, and Special Envoy Yates strongly support this trip and regard it as key to our diplomatic and assistance strategy in Somaliland. Additional travel details and security preparations have been submitted to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Ref D). Security arrangements and planning continue to be closely coordinated with the Department and other agencies. -------------- Itinerary -------------- ¶3. (S) The date of travel is proposed for September 9, 2008 and will be facilitated using a United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) chartered flight. The flight will leave Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 0700 hours and will depart Hargeisa Egal International Airport at approximately 1630 for a direct return flight to Nairobi. The visit will be hosted by the Somaliland Government and manned by Somaliland Security Services (SSS)/Special Protection Unit (SPU) personnel. The sole meeting venue, the Ambassador Hotel, is located approximately one mile from the airport. -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy Nairobi requests M to renew approval of travel to Somaliland on this proposed date as soon as possible. RANNEBERGER