Somalia - PD Activities Update, January 11

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000035 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/RSA, AF/PD, AND AF/E ALSO FOR S/CT ZROTHSCHILD ALSO FOR IIP/CTCC MAUSTEIN AND JVANDEVELDE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SO KPAO PTER MOPS SUBJECT: Somalia - PD Activities Update, January 11 REF: 07 STATE 116686 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Per ref B, Post submits the following update for the first week of January 2010. End summary. -------------- PD Activities -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Somalia Unit, including the Military Information Support Team (MIST) dedicated to Somalia, performed para. 3-6 activities since the last report: ¶3. (SBU) Somalia Unit played a significant role in securing the release of VOA Somali Service reporter Mohamed Yasin Isaq, who was detained on December 21, 2009, in Puntland. He was released on January 5, 2010, without ever having been charged with a crime. Post informed VOA in Washington that Isaq reported to us that he feared for his safety. While this release represents a successful resolution in this particular case, we remain engaged with Puntland authorities in advocating for protection of journalists in Puntland, where the situation of freedom of the press has deteriorated in recent months. ¶4. (SBU) The Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) Minister of Information informed us that TFG-run Radio Mogadishu had gained satellite connectivity to Africa, Asia (the Middle East) and Europe, with grateful thanks for the U.S. government for the December grant of $25,000. Post once again thanks AF/PD for it support for this vitally important initiative. ¶5. (SBU) Post assisted World Food Program (WFP) personnel in Nairobi with setting up interviews with Somali media to discuss the WFP's recent exit from southern Somalia. ¶6. (SBU) MIST activity: Continued audience analysis for two different planned outreach series. RANNEBERGER