Is There Hope for Somalia?

Live chat with senior U.S. State Department official Greg Garland

Host:Co.Nx: See the WorldType:Meetings - Informational MeetingNetwork:GlobalDate:Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Time:8:00am - 9:00am Location:https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/global
City/Town:Washington, DCEmail:conx@state.gov

Somalia is clearly in crisis. The country currently finds itself embroiled in a cycle of violence and instability despite promising efforts in recent years. Approximately 43 percent of the population relies on humanitarian assistance to survive, and nearly 500,000 Somalis have fled their country and now live in overcrowded refugee camps throughout the region. The Obama Administration is working to address these challenges and a strategy must be built around our work with international partners, including the United Nations, African Union, the European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Contact Group on Somalia (ICG), and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, among others, to achieve our foreign policy goals in Somalia of political and economic stability, eliminating the terrorist threat, addressing the dire humanitarian situation, and eliminating the threat of piracy. We are also working with other states in the region, as Somalia’s challenges are intertwined with other conflicts and issues throughout the Horn of Africa.This webchat will take place at http://statedept.connectsolutions.com/global. No registration is needed. Simply choose "Enter as a Guest," type in your preferred screen name and join the discussion.Guest Bio----------------------------------------------------------------Mr. Garland is Media and Outreach Coordinator for the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs. A career U.S. Foreign Service Officer, he has served in Mozambique, Angola, Mexico, Guinea, and Poland, as well as with the Jacksonville, FL, International Relations Commission. He graduated from Duke University and holds an M.A. from the University of North Carolina and J.D. from California Western School of Law. https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/global