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