VZCZCXRO1743
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #2510 3431915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091914Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0054
INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS NAIROBI 002510
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: PGOV PREL KPAO PTER MOPS SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - PD ACTIVITIES UPDATE, DECEMBER 9
REF: 07 STATE 116686
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Summary
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1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post submits the following update for the
third week of November 2009. End Summary.
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PD Activities
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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 conducted extensive media outreach in the
wake of the December 3 suicide bombing in Mogadishu. Post helped
draft and signed onto a joint statement co-signed by the EU, UN,
AMSIOM, IGAD, League of Arab States and Norway. Somalia Unit
personnel conducted multiple radio and TV interviews in the wake of
the bombing, expressing condolences to the Somali people and
reiterating our support for the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) and Somalia. Post forwarded the Department's December 4
press statement to Somali media outlets. Ambassador Ranneberger
visited victims who been evacuated to Nairobi's Aga Khan University
Hospital on December 7, and made remarks to Somali and Kenyan press
after the visit.
4. (SBU) PAO completed a grant for $25,000 to the Ministry of
Information for six months of satellite and Internet service,
focused particularly on expanding the reach of the newly-revamped
Radio Mogadishu. These funds will be disbursed via the Price
Waterhouse Coopers mechanism, which allows an increased level of
coordination and accountability for donor funds. The Minister of
Information has expressed gratitude to the USG for this
demonstration of direct support to his operation, the first of its
kind among the international community. We remain engaged with an
international group focused on coordinating our assistance to the
TFG's outreach efforts as well as Somali media. Post thanks
AF/PDPA for enabling us to provide this crucial assistance to the
TFG.
5. (SBU) MIST activity: Received the initial prototype for the
first of three issues in a comic book series. The series will
convey messages of peace and support to the TFG while condemning
extremists. Began coordination with Star FM and Sheikh Bundid to
resume the Islamic lecture series broadcasting into Kenya's North
Eastern Province and Nairobi's Eastleigh neighborhood.
6. (SBU) MIST activity (cont.): A new MIST arrived on November 30
and has completed the transition between teams.
RANNEBERGER