SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, MAY 6

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000908

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 KPAO PTER EAID MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, MAY 6

REF: 07 STATE 116686

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post submits the following update for
the third week of April and first week of May 2009. End
summary.

--------------
PD Activities
--------------


2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information
Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para.
3-10 activities since the last report:


3. (SBU) After extended discussions with the senior staff of
Mogadishu University, PAO arranged shipping to Mogadishu of
the material for the long-awaited American Corner. The
material had been sitting in an embassy warehouse in Nairobi
for several years. The Somali coordinator for the project is
an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni.
PAO is completing an MOU and also working with AF/PD and IIP
to augment the existing material and ensure this tool is
utilized effectively.


4. (SBU) PAO remains engaged with the TFG on their ongoing
efforts to establish and maintain a credible media outreach
operation. In one notable success, PAO drafted a press
release regarding the U.S. operation to rescue Maersk Alabama
Captain Richard Phillips, which resulted in the deaths of
three Somali pirates. The press release highlighted the fact
that the U.S. government had exhausted all options before
taking lethal action against the pirates, who were holding
Phillips hostage. The Prime Minister's office published the
press release almost verbatim, and Somali and international
media outlets carried the press release.


5. (SBU) PAO is engaged on a frequent basis with the
Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Minister of
Information, especially in light of both President Sharif and
Prime Minister Sharmarke's having emphasized cooperation on
media work in recent meeting with the Ambassador in Nairobi.


6. (SBU) PAO met with Puntland President Farole and discussed
cooperation in media work. The President and his advisers
were receptive to the offer. On April 30, Farole's office
published almost verbatim a press release that PAO suggested
in response to the April 29 attack on Puntland Intelligence
Service officers in Galkayo.


7. (SBU) The Somalia Unit published a press release to Somali
media outlets for World Press Freedom Day. Several
journalists wrote to thank the U.S. government for the
ongoing support and advocacy on behalf of Somali journalists.


8. (SBU) MIST activity, weeks of April 6, 13, 20 and 27: No
programs were aired this week due to contracting issues.
Programs will be aired as soon as all contracting issues have
been resolved and all vendors have been paid for their prior
work.


9. (SBU) MIST activity, week of April 13 (cont.): On April
18, MIST hosted a soccer tournament in Eastleigh, Nairobi's
Somali enclave, with the theme &Youth for Peace in
Somalia.8 Eleven teams of Somali youth showed up to the
event and were given uniforms and soccer balls with the theme
on them. Each team also received trophies and CDs from
Waayaha Cusub, the Nairobi-based music group with whom we
have done a great deal of work. The event went well with
media coverage from Shabelle Media, Simba Radio, Quran
Express, Somalia National Post, and Star FM. We have also
received numerous phone calls pertaining to the tournament.


10. (SBU) MIST activity, week of April 13 (cont.): MIST has
signed two contracts with vendors starting work on 01 May

2009. They will be using Sheikh Bundid, who will use Star FM
to broadcast his lectures, and Simba Radio, who will continue
with the peace and reconciliation radio program. The old
contracts for the vendors have been ratified and they should
be receiving payment in the near future.
RANNEBERGER