SOMALIA - REQUESTING DEPARTMENT SUPPORT FOR

S E C R E T NAIROBI 002285 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER STATE ALSO FOR U/S KENNEDY (M) AND DS A/S BOSWELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018 TAGS: OTRA AMGT ASEC PREL PTER SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - REQUESTING DEPARTMENT SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL TRAVEL TO NORTHERN SOMALIA REF: NAIROBI 2158 Classified By: Special Envoy Yates, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) Reftel describes Embassy officers' successful visit earlier this month to Hargeisa, in the Somaliland region of Somalia. Post believes it is important to continue careful, well-planned travel to northern Somalia to advance our political and development agenda. We therefore request Department support for a visit to Bossaso, in Somalia's self-declared semi-autonomous region of Puntland. A visit to Puntland will allow us to press Puntland officials to do more to combat piracy; to discuss progress toward elections in December 2008; and to meet with our partners delivering development assistance and humanitarian aid in northern Somalia. ¶2. (S/NF) In a forthcoming septel, post will request country clearance for an advance team of 2-3 Embassy Nairobi RSOs to travel to Bossaso. RSOs will conduct an in-depth threat assessment and security plan to submit to the Department. On this initial trip they will liaise with Puntland's security officials, survey the airport, and explore options for ground transportation, travel routes and meeting locations. ¶3. (S/NF) Based on the RSO advance team's findings, post will then request country clearance for 2-3 Nairobi embassy officers, accompanied by 2-3 embassy RSOs, to travel to Bossaso for a day of meetings with government officials, NGOs, and civil society leaders. ¶4. (U) Post appreciates the Departments' consideration and assistance. RANNEBERGER