Cablegate: Somalia - Pd Activities Update, January 11

VZCZCXRO4462
RR RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #0035 0110653
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110653Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0374
INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ

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

© Scoop Media