SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, OCTOBER 9

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002150 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, OCTOBER 9 REF: 07 STATE 116686 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Per ref B, Post submits the following update for the first week of October 2009. End Summary. -------------- PD Activities -------------- ¶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) Ambassador Ranneberger did an on-the-record interview with Radio Shabelle on September 9. This interview marked a renewal of Somali media's engagement with the U.S. government after a long period of hesitancy due to real and perceived threats from extremist elements in Somalia. ¶4. (SBU) On September 22, Ambassador Ranneberger visited Nairobi's Aga Khan Hospital to pay respects to African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) troops injured in the September 17 dual suicide bombing in Mogadishu. The Ambassador conducted a press conference outside the hospital in which he reiterated our regret at the bombing and affirmed U.S. support for the Transitional Federal Government, AMISOM, and the ongoing rebuilding process. The event received wide and positive media coverage. ¶5. (SBU) Somalia Unit co-authored a statement, released as a joint statement among the European Union, Inter Governmental authority on Development, League of Arab States, United Nations, Norway and the U.S, condemning the September 17 suicide bombings. ¶6. (SBU) On October 1, the regional Government of Puntland, in two separate edicts, banned FM radio stations in Puntland from carrying Voice of America's (VOA) Somali Service and banned journalists from carrying out their work for VOA. The suspension remains in effect as of mid-day October 6. Post is engaged with the Government of Puntland in an effort to reverse the suspension. ¶7. (SBU) MIST activity: The MIST has continued broadcasting a youth drama that emphasizes the needs for peace and support for the TFG. This program was broadcast in six locations throughout Puntland and central Somali as well as another location in Mogadishu. The same program is broadcasting throughout Kenya,s Northeastern Province and Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi. The MIST has also continued broadcasting a series of lectures by a local sheikh who advocates the need for tolerance and uses Islamic doctrine to refute the justifications offered by extremist organizations. This program, broadcast in six locations throughout Puntland and central Somalia as well as Mogadishu, complements the ongoing program broadcast throughout Kenya,s Northeastern Province and Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi. ¶8. (SBU) MIST activity (cont.): The MIST continues planning for comics and CDs that will supplement the recently aired youth drama series. The team also continues planning for print products that will support the TFG and condemn the extremists. These products will be distributed throughout Puntland, Kenya's Northeastern Province, Mogadishu, and Eastleigh. Finally, the MIST has begun a campaign in the Dadaab refugee camps that uses a local musical/drama group to engage Somali youth. The second concert is scheduled to be held at the end of this month. HOZA