Briefing on Secretary Clinton's Upcoming Trip to Africa.US Prepared to Give Further Aid to Somali Government

Johnnie Carson
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
Washington, DC
July 30, 2009

http://www.state.gov/p/af/rls/rm/2009/126783.htm

US Prepared to Give Further Aid to Somali Government

envoy said Thursday the Obama administration is prepared to provide more military help to Somalia's embattled Transitional Federal Government, the TFG. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a seven-nation Africa trip next week that will include a Nairobi meeting with the TFG President, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The Obama administration is making clear its readiness to continue helping the Somali administration fend off an offensive by hard-line Islamic rebels with alleged ties to al-Qaida, and it is renewing its call on Eritrea to cease its aid to the militants.The comments from Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson came as Secretary of State Clinton prepared to leave next Monday on an ambitious 11-day, seven nation African tour that will focus on problem issues including Somalia and political trouble in Zimbabwe...more..http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-30-voa43.cfm