SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, NOVEMBER 4

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002304 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, NOVEMBER 4 REF: 07 STATE 116686 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Per ref B, Post submits the following update for the first week of November 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) The Somalia Unit continues to work with the Minister of Information in an effort to augment the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) media efforts. In conjunction with this effort, the minister recently secured a new transmitter for Radio Mogadishu. This transmitter has increased the broadcast range from a few blocks to 100 kilometers from Mogadishu. Somalia Unit is working with AF/PD to coordinate an assistance package that will include a media expert, a backup transmitter, and other items necessary to strengthen the ministry. In the meantime, the Somalia Unit continues to offer suggestions and advice on the TFG's outreach efforts. ¶4. (SBU) The Somalia Unit hosted a reception on October 13 to commemorate Somalia's Flag Day, which had been suggested by contacts as a holiday free from political, clan or other negative historical baggage. A committee of Somalis coordinated the programming, which appealed to the patriotism of all Somalis. The reception resulted in wide and positive media coverage and excellent feedback from the attendees. ¶5. (SBU) Somalia Unit helped facilitate a press roundtable for Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) Eric Schwartz and Ambassador Ranneberger on October 22. A/S Schwartz reviewed his travel to refugee camps in Kenya and the DRC, highlighting U.S. efforts to aid the refugees as well as U.S. efforts to achieve stability in Somalia. We followed the press conference with a November 2 press release to Somalia media, coordinated with PRM. ¶6. (SBU) PAO attended the worldwide PAO conference in mid-October and engaged in fruitful consultations with several offices in AF. ¶7. (SBU) MIST activity: The MIST has continued to broadcast moderate Islamic, anti-violence messages throughout Somalia and the Northeastern Province of Kenya. The youth anti-violence drama 'Maslaxo' (mediation) continues to be broadcast in Mogadishu and in Puntland. The MIST also continues planning CDs and comic books to augment the Islamic and youth programs. In support of the newly-revamped Radio Mogadishu, MIST is developing a pro-TFG radio advertisement and video promoting Somali nationalism & reconciliation. RANNEBERGER