POSITIVE REACTION TO A/S CARSON'S JULY 4 PRESS

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001433 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/PD AND A/S CARSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: GH DJ ET KDEM KE KPAO PREL SO SUBJECT: POSITIVE REACTION TO A/S CARSON'S JULY 4 PRESS CONFERENCE ¶1. Summary: Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson held a press conference for international, Somali and Kenyan press in Nairobi on July 4. Most of the questions focused on current events and U.S. policy in Somalia, although A/S Carson also spent considerable time discussing good governance in Africa. Coverage of the event was positive. End Summary. -------------- Somalia, Good Governance, and POTUS Visit to Ghana -------------- ¶2. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson held a press conference for international, Somali and Kenyan media on July 4 in Nairobi. The questions focused mostly on U.S. policy toward Somalia, good governance in Africa, and the alleged message to the Government of Kenya sent by President Obama's visit to Ghana. Post has transmitted separately to AF a transcript and compilation of the coverage. ¶3. Somali media focused on U.S. assistance to, and policy toward Somalia, and Ethiopia's involvement in Somalia. Horn Afrik noted increased levels of U.S. assistance, including the recently-reported U.S.-supplied military materiel to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Horn Afrik also reported that A/S Carson said the U.S. would "never" send forces into Somalia. The A/S had stated only that there were currently no plans for a U.S. military presence in Somalia. Shabelle Media and allpuntland.com highlighted A/S Carson's statement that Somalia's regional neighbors, with the exception of Ethiopia, should explore ways to assist Somalia. A/S Carson said the involvement of Ethiopia's troops might be counterproductive. Radio Simba focused on the pending deployment to the African Union Mission to Somalia of a third battalion from Burundi. ¶4. Kenyan media outlets, including "The Nation," The Standard," and "The Kenya Times," focused on A/S Carson's comments about President Obama's travel to Ghana. Although A/S Carson went to great lengths to reject the suggestion the President made Ghana his first stop in sub-Saharan Africa because of Kenya's reform agenda shortcomings, "The Times" reported that A/S Carson's comments directly impugned Kenya. "The Nation" noted A/S Carson's very positive comments on Ghana's democratic momentum. "The Standard" and "The Nation" also published lengthy articles on the A/S's Somalia-related statements, noting U.S. support for the TFG. ¶5. Among the international press who attended, Xinhua's lengthy article focused on U.S. military assistance, but also highlighted A/S Carson's remarks about Eritrean support for Somali extremists. Reuters ran two articles on their website, one focused on President Obama's visit to Ghana and what it allegedly meant for Kenya, and the other on Somalia, highlighting A/S Carson's comment that Ethiopia should not send troops to Somalia. RANNEBERGER