SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, AUGUST 21

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001790

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 21

REF: A. NAIROBI 1699

B. 07 STATE 116686

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Summary
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1. (SBU) Per ref B, Post submits the following update for the
third week of August 2009. End summary.

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PD Activities
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2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information
Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para. 3-5
activities since the last report:


3. (SBU) Somalia Unit coordinated the joint press conference
following the meeting between President Sharif and Secretary
Clinton. Reaction from Somali, international, and Kenyan
media was tremendously positive (ref A).


4. (SBU) Somalia Unit worked with AF in facilitating an
interview by PDAS Carter with Somaliland's Horn Cable TV on
August 18. The interview, part of our public diplomacy
strategy to address Somaliland's ongoing political crisis,
had a significant impact, even prompting the Somaliland
Foreign Minister to approach HCTV for a rebuttal interview.


5. (SBU) Post coordinated the travel of the newly-designated
American Corner coordinator from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa for
training with his Ethiopian counterparts. The coordinator
will travel to Nairobi on August 21 for consultations with
the Somalia Unit before a scheduled return to Mogadishu on
August 23.


6. (SBU) Somalia Unit received the final draft of assessment
report from the two Somali journalists who returned from
Mogadishu on August 3. Post forwarded the draft to AF on
August 21 and will finalize the report in the coming week.


7. (SBU) Counselor for Somalia Affairs did an interview with
BBC's "The World" program on August 13, with a focus on
Secretary Clinton's meeting with TFG President Sharif. The
interview allowed us to emphasize the positive outcomes of
the meeting.


8. (SBU) Ambassador Ranneberger did an on-the-record
interview with the New Yorker magazine on August 21. The
Ambassador's remarks will be included in an article on
Somalia slated for the September 21 edition of the magazine,
immediately before President Sharif's planned trip to UNGA.


9. (SBU) MIST activity: MIST Somalia continues to receive
feedback from Waayaha Cusub,s trip to Somalia that
incorporated messages and products intended for use by the
MIST in Somalia and NE province. The MIST also continues to
finalize contracts for the programs covering Puntland,
Banadir, and the Kenya/Somalia border area scheduled to begin
next week. The team also continues planning for programs in
the NE province focused on refugees and the reception of USG
information, specifically counter-recruitment efforts. The
team is coordinating with civic groups in the area to
organize the program. MIST is currently waiting on contract
support.
RANNEBERGER