Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI1679
2009-08-05 07:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, AUGUST 4
how-toVZCZCXRO4978 OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNR #1679 2170748 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 050748Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0607 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001679
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 PREL KPAO PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, AUGUST 4
REF: 07 STATE 116686
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS NAIROBI 001679
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 PREL KPAO PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, AUGUST 4
REF: 07 STATE 116686
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post submits the following update for
the first week of August 2009. End summary.
--------------
PD Activities
--------------
2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information
Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para. 3-6
activities since the last report:
3. (SBU) The two Somali journalists who traveled to Mogadishu
to assess the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) public
diplomacy operations returned to Nairobi on August 3. During
the visit, the team met with TFG President Sharif, Prime
Minister Sharmarke, and other ranking members of the TFG.
The assessors were in daily phone contact with PAO and had
already provided useful feedback to the Somalia Unit. We
expect a written report of their findings in approximately a
week.
4. (SBU) Post continued publicly advocating for a free and
fair election process in Somaliland. Contacts in Somaliland
reported that the Counselor's interview with Horn Cable TV on
July 21 had significant impact. On August 3, Post published
a press release registering our concern with the Somaliland
authorities' decision to discard a voter registration list.
Somaliland contacts have expressed gratitude for our public
statements on the situation in that region.
5. (SBU) PAO met on July 28 with Mogadishu University
representatives in Nairobi regarding the recently-opened
American Corner. The representatives reported that the
American Corner is functioning, though it is operating from
an administrative building rather than the more vulnerable
main campus. PAO will invite the coordinator to Nairobi for
an introductory visit with the Somalia Unit, and possibly
include a visit to an American Corner in Kenya. Post will
also procure additional equipment and supplies for the
American Corner.
6. (SBU) MIST activity: The MIST continued to receive
feedback on the Puntland performance tour by music group
Waayaha Cusub, recordings of which MIST will rebroadcast
throughout Somalia and Kenya's Northeast Province. The MIST
also continued finalizing contracts for new programs in
Puntland, Banadir, and the Kenya/Somalia border. Finally,
the team began planning for procurement of materials to
support community groups in the Dadaab refugee camps aimed at
enhancing delivery of U.S. messages, especially countering
extremists' recruitment efforts in the camps.
RANNEBERGER
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 PREL KPAO PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, AUGUST 4
REF: 07 STATE 116686
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post submits the following update for
the first week of August 2009. End summary.
--------------
PD Activities
--------------
2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information
Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para. 3-6
activities since the last report:
3. (SBU) The two Somali journalists who traveled to Mogadishu
to assess the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) public
diplomacy operations returned to Nairobi on August 3. During
the visit, the team met with TFG President Sharif, Prime
Minister Sharmarke, and other ranking members of the TFG.
The assessors were in daily phone contact with PAO and had
already provided useful feedback to the Somalia Unit. We
expect a written report of their findings in approximately a
week.
4. (SBU) Post continued publicly advocating for a free and
fair election process in Somaliland. Contacts in Somaliland
reported that the Counselor's interview with Horn Cable TV on
July 21 had significant impact. On August 3, Post published
a press release registering our concern with the Somaliland
authorities' decision to discard a voter registration list.
Somaliland contacts have expressed gratitude for our public
statements on the situation in that region.
5. (SBU) PAO met on July 28 with Mogadishu University
representatives in Nairobi regarding the recently-opened
American Corner. The representatives reported that the
American Corner is functioning, though it is operating from
an administrative building rather than the more vulnerable
main campus. PAO will invite the coordinator to Nairobi for
an introductory visit with the Somalia Unit, and possibly
include a visit to an American Corner in Kenya. Post will
also procure additional equipment and supplies for the
American Corner.
6. (SBU) MIST activity: The MIST continued to receive
feedback on the Puntland performance tour by music group
Waayaha Cusub, recordings of which MIST will rebroadcast
throughout Somalia and Kenya's Northeast Province. The MIST
also continued finalizing contracts for new programs in
Puntland, Banadir, and the Kenya/Somalia border. Finally,
the team began planning for procurement of materials to
support community groups in the Dadaab refugee camps aimed at
enhancing delivery of U.S. messages, especially countering
extremists' recruitment efforts in the camps.
RANNEBERGER