Somalia: U.S. Congressman Sees Signs of Hope Despite Mortar Attack

13 April 2009
allAfrica.com

Donald Payne, a veteran Democratic Congressman from New Jersey, has landed safely in Nairobi after his plane drew mortar fire while departing Mogadishu, Somalia.

According to a Congressional aide, the plane landed around 7:30 pm Kenya time. He was accompanied to Mogadishu by Theodros (Ted) Dagne, an Africa specialist with the Congressional Research Service who regularly participates in Payne's frequent Africa visits. Also on the plane was Mohamed Omaar, foreign minister in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia.

Payne held talks in Mogadishu with TFG President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and other Somali leaders. Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and former militant commander, became president in January by a parliamentary vote in a major shake-up of the TFG leadership.

According to Congressional and administration officials, Payne was discouraged by the State Department and U.S. intelligence agencies from visiting the Somali capital, which has not had a visit from an American official in many years. Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer visited Baidoa, a city in south-central Somalia, in 2007.

Payne decided to make the journey to press for a peaceful solution to the unrest that has dominated Somalia for three decades. Payne, who was elected to Congress in 1988, chairs the House of Representatives Subcommittee Africa and Global Health and is the point-person on Africa for the Congressional Black Caucus.

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