N.J. Rep. Payne approves of U.S. Somalia action - New Jersey Representative Daniel Payne

Jet, July 12, 1993

New Jersey Rep. Daniel Payne the last elected U.S. official to visit it Somalia, monitored the distribution of $2 million worth of medicine in the war-torn African country. It was donated at his request by his state's pharmaceutical firms.

Traveling on a seven-day humanitarian mission, his second visit to the country, Rep. Payne, one of four Black members of the House African sub-committee, recently inspected the vast network of 17 hospitals, 58 maternal child health care centers and 144 posts the UNICEF operates throughout Somalia.

On his first trip last November, Rep. Payne saw roving bands of Somali youth on a campaign of fear and terror. They randomly destroyed homes and community shelters where starving children huddled. Those conditions had changed during his last trip Rep. Payne noted shops being opened and small trade going on.

After returning home, the ambush of Pakistani troops by followers of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, which killed 23 soldiers, touched off a new spree of fighting, with U.S. air planes bombing hideouts of the warlord. "Warlords cannot be allowed to interfere with peacekeeping efforts," said Rep. Payne.

At Jet press time, the U.N. peacekeeping operation in Somalia offered an unspecified cash reward for the capture of Aidid. Leaflets announcing the reward were being distributed nationwide.