VZCZCXRO7328
RR RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #1393 0870836
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280836Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8564
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001393 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/F FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EWWT EAID PREL MOPS SO US
SUBJECT:  Somalia Requests Anti-Pirate Assistance 
 
Ref:  A) Nairobi 1127  B) Nairobi 1134 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Under cover of Diplomatic Note ESR/1381/N/07 
dated March 16, 2007, the Somali Embassy transmitted the 
following letter from Foreign Minister Hurreh to 
Ambassador Ranneberger: 
 
TFG MFA letterhead 
 
Quote. 
 
Ref:  FA-IC/010097/07  Date:  14/03/2007 
 
Mr. Michael E. Ranneberger 
Ambassador 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Nairobi, Kenya 
 
Subject:  Hijackings by Pirates off the Somali Coast 
 
Dear Mr. Ambassador, 
 
At the outset, I feel privileged to express my deepest 
appreciation for your assistance and understanding to 
enable us to overcome the current challenges that we face. 
 
To continue facing these challenges, the Transitional 
Federal Government (TFG) requests the assistance of the 
United States Government to interdict pirates hijacking 
commercial vessels off the Somali Coast.  In this respect 
we like to make a particular reference to the recent 
[begin bold] hijacking of the UNWFP contracted vessel MV 
Rozen [end bold].  We appeal to the Government of the 
United States to use all means possible to free this 
vessel and its crews. 
 
Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the expression of my 
highest consideration and esteem. 
 
[signature] 
 
Ismael Mohamoud Hurreh 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
 
End quote. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Somali pirates hijacked the MV Rozen off the 
coast of Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland on 
February 25.  The vessel, a Kenyan freighter under 
charter to WFP, had discharged its cargo of relief 
supplies and was returning to Mombassa when attacked. 
The crew of six Kenyans and six Sri Lankans remains in 
pirate hands on board the vessel off the Somali coast. 
 
Ranneberger