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DE RUEHDR #0372/01 1561216
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R 051216Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8581
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 2908
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3439
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1364
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1301
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0064
RUEHIC/OIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 000372 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JLIDDLE; INR/RAA FOR FEHRENREICH, AF/EPS, IIP/AF 
CBERGIN, AF/PD KTHOMAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL KDEM KPAO TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIAN MUSLIMS POSITIVE, BUT AWAITING ACTION FOLLOWING 
CAIRO SPEECH 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  President Obama's Cairo speech to the Muslim world 
received positive feedback in Tanzania, but Muslims say they are now 
"waiting for action."  Opinion leaders thought the speech "marks the 
beginning of new relations with the Muslim world" but were reserved 
awaiting follow-on actions.  The youth audience was positive about 
path ahead.  The speech was aired live on five national television 
stations and dozens of radio stations, and coverage continued on all 
evening news and in nine national newspapers June 5.  PAS and Front 
office held a press conference prior to the speech, and a real-time 
viewing with 40 Muslim high school students at the embassy, and PAO 
was a guest on a call in response show with Television Zanzibar and 
conducted follow-up programs at the American Corner - Unguja and a 
Zanzibar Teacher's College.  END SUMMARY. 
 
PRINT REACTION POSITIVE BUT MEASURED 
¶2.  The June 5, "Mwananchi" (independent, 40,000 daily circulation, 
Kiswahili) reported: "Some Muslim leaders said President Obama does 
not have anything new to tell them - all that Muslims need to see is 
change in the U.S. policy."  The influential Secretary General of 
Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) Ramadhan Sanze reportedly said, 
"We are not taking seriously Obama's word but the Americans' 
policy/attitude towards Muslims worldwide."  Mwananchi's sister 
paper "The Citizen" (independent, 30,000 daily circulation) carried 
a June 5 front page lead entitled "Obama gets support on U.S.-Muslim 
ties" and quoted several prominent opinion leaders support for the 
President, while also noting criticism for the lack of a direct 
apology in the speech, and some skepticism on whether the President 
will be able to implement the ideas stated in the speech. 
Influential Dar es Salaam Catholic Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop 
Methodius Kilaini reportedly praised the speech saying it "heralded 
a new beginning that brought hope, especially between the 
conflicting groups."  The Bishop praised Obama's support of 
diplomatic solutions while criticizing former president G.W. Bush, 
who "always used force and military might to solve problems."  The 
respected Professor Mwesiga Baregu of the University of Dar es 
Salaam (UDSM) was quoted as saying, "I believe his speech marks the 
beginning of good relations between Muslims and Americans and the 
end of the Middle East crisis." However, the professor, a frequent 
critic of U.S. policy, continued, "Mr. Obama may not be able to 
implement what he desires because of the system that he had 
inherited."  USDM political scientist, Bashiru Ally reportedly 
stated "Mr. Obama's failure to apologize for mistakes committed by 
his predecessors had weakened his case for a new chapter in 
relations between the US and the Muslim world. The academic also 
criticized the invasion of Iraq saying that the "illegal" invasion 
called for an apology and blamed the Middle East conflict on 
imperialism. Ally's attitude was described as 'wait and see;' he 
continued, "I hope he will have the commitment and be strong enough 
to implement what he has promised... let's give him time and see the 
results." 
 
¶3. "The African" (moderate, independent 5,000 daily circulation) 
pronounced "U.S. wants fresh start with Muslim world" on the front 
page below the fold. The article used direct quotes to recap the 
speech in a positive light.  "The Daily News" (Government owned, 
conservative, 30,000 daily broadsheet), carried the front page story 
"Obama pledges 'new beginning' with Muslims."  The article suggested 
the speech may be one of the "defining moments of his presidency" 
and that it "laid out a new blueprint for U.S.-Middle East policy, 
promising to end mistrust, forge a state for Palestinians, and 
defuse a nuclear showdown with Iran."  The article highlighted that 
Obama quoted from both the Koran and the Bible which pleased the 
audience. The article also linked the President's comments on 
"ignorant rants by those who deny the Nazi Holocaust" with President 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 
 
MUSLIM YOUTH "TRUST" THE PRESIDENT;" SAY "WE HAVE TO FORGET THE 
PAST" 
¶4. Approximately 40 students and teachers from Dar es Salaam's 
Kinondoni Muslim Secondary School gathered at the Embassy to watch 
Obama's speech aired on VOA. The students smiled or applauded when 
the President mentioned banning torture, closing Guantanamo, 
educating women, and increasing funding for exchange programs.  In 
the subsequent Q&A with Public Diplomacy Officer, the 16-18 year 
students reacted by saying: 
-"We are all equal.  We have to forget the past.  Since the 
inauguration, President Obama has made some of America's former 
enemies into his best friends." (Male student) 
-"If he truly says it from his heart, then it is very good.  I trust 
him... but many other Muslims will not trust him because he is the 
president of the USA." (Female student) 
 "In the end it is up to the Israelis and Palestinians to take 
 
DAR ES SAL 00000372  002 OF 002 
 
 
responsibility for bringing about peace themselves."(Male student) 
-One student remarked positively that America supports the right of 
Muslim women to wear the hijab. 
-Another student questioned whether or not the United States 
"secret" support of "Jews" (i.e. Israel) would prolong conflict in 
the region. 
-"I think he's going to conquer the hearts of Muslims, because he 
used the words of the Koran, and that is what we believe.  He'll win 
their hearts like he's won mine." (Female teacher, students agreed 
and applauded) 
- "He was neutral 100% and very careful.  And he must be careful, 
because people will examine every word he says." (Male teacher) 
The students received a copy of the IIP publication "Being Muslim in 
America," a copy of the speech, articles from America.gov, and 
discussed the "Muslim Life in America" IIP poster show. The students 
smiled proudly and applauded when they learned that they were among 
the first Tanzanians to receive the text of the speech. 
 
EVENTS HELD BY USG OFFICIALS: 
¶5.  - Charge and PAO conducted press conference morning of June 4th 
with three national television stations (ITV, Ch. 10 and Star TV) 
and print media (Kiswahili and English print). Sound bites, photos, 
and quotes were used in June 4 evening news and subsequent print 
press; Coverage was mostly factual. 
-PAO traveled to Zanzibar for a one-hour live call-in program 
immediately following the President's speech.  TV Zanzibar's 
Managing Director compared today's speech to MLK's "I Have a Dream" 
speech, calling it an impressive example of oratory.  One caller was 
appreciative of the President's references to the Koran; others 
wanted to learn more about Muslim Americans (including in the U.S. 
Congress); 
- PAO hosted discussions about the speech at the American Corner 
located at the State University of Zanzibar and Chukwani Teachers 
College (expected audience of 300, including two nearby secondary 
schools) on June 5, Reaction was mostly positive but now the 
audience is "waiting for action"; 
- PAS hosted 40 students from a Dar es Salaam Muslim Secondary 
School to view the speech live via VOA at the U.S. Embassy, reaction 
was overwhelming positive (pp 4); 
- Post has further outreach planned to three Muslim secondary 
schools the week of June 8 
 
RADIO/TV/ COVERAGE 
¶6.  Radio: The speech was carried live, nationally on Radio Free 
Africa (VOA affiliate),  Radio Adhana (CNN International) coverage 
throughout the mostly-Muslim Swahili coast (400,000 listeners); this 
station primarily plays Muslim traditional music and received some 
calls about the English speech, on Zenj FM, Coconut FM (VOA 
affiliate) and on numerous other radio stations. Tanzanians were 
able to listen to the speech on their cell phones via local radio 
transmissions. 
Television: The speech was carried live on Star TV (VOA affiliate) 
with national coverage, on ITV (CNN International) with national 
coverage, on TV Zanzibar (CNN International) coverage throughout the 
mostly-Muslim Swahili coast and commercial capital Dar es Salaam 
(300,000 viewers).  Satellite dish owners viewed the speech on BBC, 
CNN, SkyNews and Al Jazeera English.  All national media (Channel 
10, TBC, and Star TV, and ITV, TVZ), carried the story on their 
evening news. 
New Media: Post placed the speech announcement on Jamiiforums, 
Tanzania's leading internet blog in Tanzania: 
http://www.jamiiforums.com/ international-forum/ 
30480-president-obamas-trip-mideast-new-partn ership. html. 
Immediately prior to the speech, the page had 300+ views with 25 
comments (2 in Kiswahili, including:  "Osama already said Obama has 
nothing different from ex-President Bush, he wants Obama to stick on 
his statements so that Middle East will start increasing their trust 
over him (Obama). He wants Obama to score more points over their 
doubts by withdrawing US' bias towards the Israel vs. Palestine 
saga. Let's wait and see. Time will eventually tell.") 
 
MUSHINGI