SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, JULY 9

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001457 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/RSA AND AF/E ALSO FOR S/CT ZROTHSCHILD ALSO FOR IIP/CTCC MAUSTEIN AND JVANDEVELDE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAO PTER EAID MOPS SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, JULY 9 REF: A. A. NAIROBI 1433 ¶B. B. ZIMMER-AF 07/06/09 EMAIL ¶C. C. 07 STATE 116686 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post submits the following update for the first week of July 2009. End summary. -------------- PD Activities -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para. 3-7 activities since the last report: ¶3. (SBU) Somalia Unit supported Assistant Secretary Carson's July 4 press conference in Nairobi, which focused heavily on Somalia. International, Kenyan, and Somali press attended. In addition to press reaction in ref A, media reaction reporting has been forwarded via ref B email. ¶4. (SBU) Post continued preparing the two selected Somali journalists to accompany the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Minister of Information to Mogadishu for an extended assessment of all aspects of the TFG's media/public affairs operation. PAO coordinated an introductory meeting between the two assessors and the Minister of Information in Nairobi on July 2. In addition to the procurement process, we continue working with the assessors to ensure they understand the expectations for the assessment mission. ¶5. (SBU) We continued to coordinate the installation and use of the AF/RSA-procured FM radio transmitter slated to arrive in Somalia in late July or early August. As the United Nations has concurrently procured a transmitter package, we are working to determine if the U.S. transmitter can be a complementary addition or might better be used to boost the capacity of TFG-owned Radio Mogadishu. ¶6. (SBU) MIST activity, week of June 29: MIST continued to broadcast Islamic outreach messages by Sheikh Bundid on Star FM in Northeast Kenya and Nairobi as well as a discussion forum promoting reconciliation in Mogadishu on Radio Simba. ¶7. (SBU) MIST activity, week of June 29 (cont.): Statements of Work (SOWs) were sent forward to European command (EUCOM) for contracting for the continuation and expansion of the current Somalia program. The team is confirming funding before moving forward with remaining contracting for the fourth quarter of FY09. SLUTZ