STORY: Somalia joins the Muslim world in celebrating Eid

DURATION: 7:27
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 5/JUNE/2019, KISMAYO, JOWHAR, BAIDOA,
BELET WEYNE, DHOBLEY, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

DHOBLEY:

1. Wide shot, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers attend Eid ul-Fitr prayers together
with the residents in Dhobley
2. Med shot, KDF soldiers and residents praying
3. Wide shot, KDF soldiers and Dhobley residents praying
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brigadier General Dickson Ruto, AMISOM Sector Two
Commander
“We are celebrating (Eid) with our fellow soldiers and the entire community of
Dhobley. It has been a very peaceful period for us within sector two area of
responsibility. I want to pay special tribute to all our heroes who have lost their lives
in bringing peace to Somalia particularly in the state of Jubaland. We have been able
to secure the population during this period in sector two by conducting joint
operations with Somalia National Army and Jubaland security forces.”

5. Wide shot, faithful observe Eid ul-Fitr prayers

6. Med shot, KDF soldiers and Dhobley residents embrace after the prayers
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasin Hassan Moalim, Warrant Officer One
“I would like to take this opportunity to convey my greetings to my colleagues from
Kenya and here in Somalia for their sacrifice, especially my colleagues who are in
FOBs (Forward Operating Bases), I pray for them, we are together and also not
forgetting our families in Kenya, we have missed them, we love them and insha allah
we will meet them.”

KISMAYO:
8. Wide shot, residents gather at Waamo stadium for Eid ul-Fitr prayers
9. Wide shot, Abdikadir Mohamud Lugadheere, Deputy President of Jubaland State
attending the prayers
10. Med shot, Abdikadir Mohamud Lugadheere, Jubaland Deputy President and
other residents attending prayers
11. Med shot, women and children attending prayers
12. Close up shot, children attending Eid ul-Fitr prayers
13. Close up shot, a resident at the prayer venue
14. Med shot, residents attending prayers
15. Wide shot, residents praying
16. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Abdikadir Haji Mohamud Lugadheere, Deputy President
of Jubaland State
“We thank almighty God who enabled us to conclude the month of Ramadan
peacefully without any problem. Brothers, God has granted us resources and the key
issue is security and peace. If we have peace we will get everything. I would like to
request the residents of Jubaland to help strengthen security; we should not allow
others to breach our peace.”

17. Wide shot, residents gather at Waamo stadium for Eid ul-Fitr prayers
18. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Mohamed Abdikadir Aden, Kismayo resident
“It was a peaceful Ramadan, may God accept the fasting we observed during the
holy month of Ramadan. I wish all Muslims to reach the next Ramadan in peace, joy
and prosperity. AMISOM are good partners who have assisted the government and
the people of Somalia and God willing we will fulfill their good support.”

19. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Maryama Ahmed Abdi, Kismayo resident

“This was a peaceful Ramadan; it has started well and ended well. May God accept
our deeds and prayers and may we be part of those freed from hell fire. I wish
Somalia success and may God bring harmony among Somalis. Somalia is recovering,
however, we are not yet ready and I don’t think AMISOM can exit while we are not
yet fully ready (to secure the country).”

BAIDOA:

20. Wide shot, security forces maintaining security as residents gather for prayers
21. Med shot, residents gather to attend prayers at Dr. Ayub stadium
22. Wide shot, residents entering Dr. Ayub stadium for Eid ul-Fitr prayers
23. Med shot, soldiers checking the residents before entering Dr. Ayub stadium
24. Close up shot, a Somali police officer checks a resident before entering the
stadium
25. Wide shot, residents attending prayers
26. Med shot, South West state administration officials attending prayers
27. Wide shot, residents praying
29. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Mohamed Abdirahman Osman, Baidoa resident
“I congratulate all Muslims around the globe particularly Somalis and the people of
South West State on this happy Eid day. I hope Somalia will be better than it is now
in terms of development and socio-economic growth.”

BELET WEYNE:

30. Med shot, residents gather to attend prayers at Lamagalay Military Base
31. Close up shot, a resident praying
32. Close up shot, prayer beads
33. Wide shot, residents praying
34. Med shot, residents praying
35. Wide shot, residents praying
36. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Belet Weyne District
Commissioner
“We have marked the end of Ramadan last night (Monday night), we have fasted
well and it was peaceful and stable. Thanks to God, to Somali security forces in Hiran
region and Hill Walaal (Djiboutian contingent)

37. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Hawa-Lul Aden Hussein, Belet Weyne resident

“I wish the Somali people to coexist peacefully and develop Somalia. I appreciate the
role of AMISOM troops in maintaining security. AMISOM troops are gradually
withdrawing from Somalia, we are confident that the security forces of Somalia can
take over the security responsibility.”

JOWHAR:

38. Wide shot, children playing on a makeshift merry-go-round

39. Med shot, children playing on a makeshift merry-go-round
40. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Abikar Abdikadir, Jowhar resident
“I call upon all Muslims, children, elderly, men and women to love one another since
it is a happy day. I also urge those who are not in good terms to forgive one another
on this special day.”

41. Wide shot, children playing on a makeshift merry-go-round

Somalia joins the Muslim world in celebrating Eid

Mogadishu, 5 June 2019 - Somalia ushered in Eid ul-Fitr with pomp and pageantry
following the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which the residents observed
strict fasting from dawn to sunset.

Dressed in their best Islamic attire, both men and women, young and old, gathered at
places of worship in the major towns to thank Allah for the successful completion of
Ramadan.

The residents praised the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali
security forces for securing the country during the holy month and expressed
optimism that the process of transferring security responsibility from the former to
the latter will be successful.

In Dhobley, AMISOM troops and residents held joint prayers to celebrate the special
day after the month-long fast.

“We are celebrating (Eid) with our fellow soldiers and the entire community of
Dhobley. We have been able to secure the population through joint operations with
the Somali National Army and Jubaland security forces, and, as a team, we succeeded
in pacifying the area and pushing Al-Shabaab out of the areas we control,” said
AMISOM Sector Two Commander Brig. Gen. Dickson Ruto.

Brig. Gen. Ruto urged the residents to continue working with AMISOM and the local
administration to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.

In Kismayo, the faithful braved the harsh sunlight and congregated at Waamo stadium
to pray for peace and stability in the country.

The deputy president of Jubaland State, Abdikadir Mohamud Lugadheere, who

attended the special prayers, urged residents to unite and reject insurgents who want
to destabilise the region.
“God has granted us abundant resources and the key issue is security and peace. I
request residents of Jubaland to work with our forces to help strengthen the region’s
security and reject those who want to destabilise us,” said Mr. Lugadheere, who was
dressed in a milk-white thobe.

His sentiments were echoed by Mohamed Abdikadir Aden, a Kismayo resident, who
thanked AMISOM for its contribution in stabilising the region and other parts of
Somalia.

“AMISOM personnel are good partners who have assisted the government and the
people of Somalia, and God willing, we will achieve more in the future,” said Mr. Aden.

Jubaland state is preparing to hold elections in August, this year, and preparations by
the administration, AMISOM and the United Nations are already underway to ensure
the exercise is free, fair and peaceful.

Elsewhere, in Baidoa, security was tight as officers patrolled the streets and screened
residents entering Dr. Ayub stadium for special prayers.

“Somali police managed to maintain security in Baidoa town during the holy month of
Ramadan through collaboration with the worshippers. This is a major success,”
observed Baidoa Police Commissioner, Mukhtar Ahmed Dugudow.

Present at Dr. Ayub stadium, were the speaker of South West regional assembly,
Abdikadir Sharif Shekhuna, members of the regional assembly and cabinet ministers.
In Belet Weyne, the headquarters of Hiran region, the governor of Hiran region, Yusuf
Ahmed Hagar, and Belet Weyne district commissioner, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, led
the residents in celebrating Eid ul-Fitr at Somali National Army’s Lamagalay Military
Base.
Mr. Ibrahim commended AMISOM and Somali security forces for keeping the region
safe during the holy month of Ramadan.
“Thanks to God, Somali security forces in Hiran region and Hill Walaal [Djiboutian
contingent] for the peaceful Ramadan we have had. I urge all Somali people to
continue maintaining peace,” added Mr. Ibrahim.

In Jowhar, the administrative capital of HirShabelle State, residents mingled freely and
wished each other Eid Mubarak.

“I call on all Muslims to love one another and forgive each other to enable Somalia
reach greater heights of development,” noted Abikar Abdikadir, a Jowhar resident.

ENDS