Talking about Somalia at the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Conference. SJ Dodgson. MJoTA 2013 v7n2 p0918
The annual gathering of politicians and "we the people" started today in Washington, DC.
The first panel I witnessed was chaired by Congressman Keith Ellison, of Minnesota, and include Ambassador Johnny Carson, who was the State Department's number 1 person on Africa, a representative from USAID, and 2 Somali women activists.
The tone was subdued, Somalis are having a hard time in their own country, and Somali youths living in Minnesota often have great challenges.
However, I was hearing that things are being done in Somalia, a great change from the symposium of Somalia held 4 years ago in the offices of the American Bar Association in Manhattan. Then, the former ambassador to Somalia was almost in tears, talking about the history of Somalia and how things were deteriorating even further.
I asked the panel about Turkey, because I know that turkey has a peacekeeping role in Somalia. Yes, indeed, and the country is giving aid, but it is only to Mogadishu.
Page updated Apr 28, 2015.
