SOMALIA - Ambassador Visits Wounded Burundian Troops

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000409 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E BRUSSELS FOR ACTING A/S CARTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO PTER SO BY SUBJECT: SOMALIA - Ambassador Visits Wounded Burundian Troops Ambassador Visits Wounded Troops -------------- ¶1. (U) On February 25, Ambassador Ranneberger visited the fifteen Burundian troops who were wounded in the February 22 suicide bomb attack on their Mogadishu base and subsequently evacuated to Nairobi. The Ambassador was joined by the Czech Consul (representing the EU Presidency),the Charge d' Affaires at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, and AMISOM officials. The Ambassador first called on the soldiers in their room, offering condolences for their eleven colleagues who were killed in the attack and thanking them for their efforts in Somalia. The soldiers reacted very positively to the visit, thanking the Ambassador for personally visiting them and reaffirming their dedication to their mission. He then made remarks to media assembled outside of the hospital, including five Somali outlets, three Kenyan outlets, and an outlet covering the Great Lakes region. Text of Press Release -------------- ¶2. (U) Post released the following press release and a photograph to Somali media outlets following the visit: Begin text. U.S. Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya Press Release February 26, 2009 U.S. Ambassador Visits Wounded AMISOM Troops United States Ambassador Michael Ranneberger today visited the fifteen Burundian troops who were wounded in Sunday's suicide bomb attack on their base in Mogadishu, and subsequently evacuated to Nairobi. The Ambassador was joined by counterparts from the European Union, the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, AMISOM, and senior staff from Nairobi Hospital. Ambassador Ranneberger offered condolences for the eleven soldiers who perished in the attacks. He also thanked the troops for their service to Somalia, noting that they are a credit to Burundi as they work to rebuild Somalia. Ambassador Ranneberger reviewed the measures the international community is taking to support the Transitional Federal Government, so that the Somali government can ultimately provide for its own security. Finally, the Ambassador remarked with admiration that one of the wounded soldiers told him that, if given the opportunity, the soldier would return to Somalia to finish his mission. End text. RANNEBERGER