Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI1433
2009-07-07 16:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
POSITIVE REACTION TO A/S CARSON'S JULY 4 PRESS
how-toVZCZCXRO1503 OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNR #1433 1881639 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 071639Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0259 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
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
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
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