STORY: AMISOM visits newly recovered Bariire on

assessment mission
DURATION: 5:50
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 13/JUNE/2019, BARIIRE, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Med shot, a delegation from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
Headquarters in Mogadishu on a visit to the recently recovered district of Bariire in
Lower Shabelle region of South West State of Somalia
2. Wide shot, a delegation from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
Headquarters in Mogadishu visit Bariire in Lower Shabelle
3. Med shot, Lt. Col. Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire
welcomes the delegation
4. Wide shot, Lt. Col. Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire and
the delegation in a meeting
5. Med shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the Somali National Army in Bariire
at the meeting
6. Close up shot, Lt. Col. Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire
7. Med shot, Abdul Diabagate, the Head of AMISOMs Humanitarian Liaison Unit
speaking at the meeting
8. Close up shot, Karim Adebayo, Head of Protection, Human Rights and Gender
Office, speaking
9. Wide shot, Lt. Col. Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire at
the meeting
10. Med shot, senior officials of the delegation listening
11. Wide shot, AMISOM and SNA soldiers walking in Bariire
12. Wide shot, A section of Bariire town
13. Med shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA) in
Bariire surveying the Shabelle river
14. Wide shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the SNA in Bariire and the
delegation from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Headquarters in
Mogadishu surveying Shabelle river
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abdul Diabagate, Head of AMISOM Humanitarian Liaison
Unit
“We are here in AMISOM sector 1 in Bariire and we came from Mogadishu. The
team has been tasked to undertake a field visit and the objective is to assess the
security situation and have firsthand information from the local community.”

16. Wide shot, the delegation meeting with the residents

17. Med shot, Abdul Diabagate, Head of AMISOM Humanitarian Liaison Unit
addressing the residents
18. Close up shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the SNA in Bariire listening
19. Med shot, SNA soldiers at the meeting
20. Med shot, Abdul Diabagate, Head of AMISOMs Humanitarian Liaison Unit, Capt.
Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the SNA in Bariire and AMISOM soldiers addressing the
residents
21. Wide shot, residents listening
22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abdul Diabagate, Head of AMISOM Humanitarian Liaison
Unit
“In order for the local community to overcome their fear, they have to be
guaranteed of security. This place has been captured (from Al-Shabaab). This time
around we have to be sure that Al-Shabaab is not going to come and disturb us. With
AMISOM and SNA presence, you can see that there is a lot of trust from the
community, who are returning to their residence to continue with their daily
activities. As you can see on the broken bridge, the local community are willing to
move back into their places. So for us to overcome that fear, we have to make sure
that we have (adequate) security in the area and also be able to rebuild the bridge.”

23. Med shot, bridge

24. Wide shot, damaged bridge
25. Close up shot, residents crossing the bridge
26. Close up shot, residents and their animals cross the bridge
27. Med shot, SNA soldiers helping residents cross the bridge
28. Close up shot, SNA soldiers helping residents cross the bridge
29. Wide shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the SNA in Bariire and Lt. Col.
Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire talking
30.Med shot, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the SNA in Bariire and Lt. Col.
Patrick Opira, the Commander of Ugandan troops in Bariire talking
31. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lt. Col. Patrick Opira, Commander of AMISOM Ugandan
troops based in Bariire
“The situation has gradually been improving and this has been because of the
consolidation process that we have been doing. We sit on a daily basis with the
commander of the SNA to plan and send soldiers to patrol places further from our
base and this has indeed improved the security situation of the area. I strongly
believe, as you can see on the ground, the population is now gaining confidence and
coming back.”

33. Wide shot, SNA soldiers

34. Med shot, a resident on his donkey cart
35. Med shot, a resident herding his goats and sheep
36. Wide shot, a resident herding his goats and sheep
37. Wide shot, returning residents
38. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the Somali National
Army Troops in Bariire
“We [SNA) and AMISOM are one. We come together and plan and carry out
operations jointly.”.

39. Wide shot, SNA and AMISOM soldiers crossing the bridge

40. Med shot, residents crossing the bridge

41. Pan shot, Shabelle river

42. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Capt. Abdi Ali Rage, Commander of the Somali National
Army Troops in Bariire

“They (local population) will come back if we construct this bridge and liberate the
villages and districts near Bariire where the people are suffering under the hands of
the enemy [Al-Shabaab].”

43. Close up shot, sign

44. Wide short, former Al-Shabaab headquarters

45. Wide shot, former Al-Shabaab headquarters

46. Med shot, SNA soldiers

AMISOM visits newly recovered Bariire on assessment mission

BARIIRE, June 15, 2019 - A delegation from the African Union Mission in Somalia

(AMISOM) on Thursday visited Bariire in Lower Shabelle region in South West State of

Somalia, to conduct a rapid needs and security assessment of the situation on the

ground following the recovery of the town from Al-Shabaab.

Bariire was recently recovered from the terrorist group Al-Shabaab militants in a joint

operation by the Somali National Army (SNA), with the support of AMISOM forces.

More than a month after its capture, Barire is largely deserted town, though

communities are beginning to return.

During the visit to the agricultural rich area, the AMISOM delegation interfaced with

the local AMISOM and SNA military commanders to have first-hand information on

the prevailing security situation. During a guided tour of the town, the delegation

guarded by SNA and AMISOM troops met and interacted with a few members of the

population who had just recently returned.

The delegation was led by Abdul Diabagate Head of AMISOM’s Humanitarian Liaison

Unit comprised of Kareem Adebayo, Head of the Protection, Human Rights and

Gender Cell; Dr Walters Samah, Head of Joint Mission Analysis Cell; Chief Engineer

Andrew Alele; Civil Affairs Officer Christopher Ogwang; Police Deputy Operations

Coordinator Saiga Ibrahim and CIMIC Officer Maj. Fred Malegano.

“In order for the local community to overcome their fear of the militants, there is a

need to guarantee their security. We have to ensure that Al-Shabaab militants are not

going to come and terrorize the people,” Diagabate said. The local community,

Diagabate noted, is beginning to regain confidence and return to the area, to resume

their daily lives, owing to the presence of AMISOM and SNA forces. Security is

improving with the SNA and AMISOM forces working together to restore security and

normalcy in the area.

The AMISOM delegation noted that transport movement in the district is a nightmare.

Facing military defeat, fleeing Al-Shabaab militants blew up an important bridge,

virtually cutting off a section of Bariire district. Diagabate said there was an urgent

need to rebuild the bridge.

In Barire, the SNA and AMISOM troops live in one camp, from where they plan and

conduct joint operations. “The situation is gradually improving due to the

consolidation process that we have been consistently doing. We sit on a daily basis

with the commander of the SNA to plan and send out patrols to exploit places further

from our base and this has improved the security situation in the area,” Lt. Col. Patrick

Opira, the Commander of Ugandan AMISOM forces in Bariire stated, noting that the

population is now gaining confidence and gradually returning to their homes and

farms in the area.

The Commander of the SNA in Bariire, Capt. Abdi Ali Rage said that both SNA and

AMISOM are motivated to do more to ease the suffering of the local population.

“They (local population) will come back if we construct this bridge and liberate the

villages and districts near Bariire where the people are suffering under the hands of

the enemy,” Capt. Abdi explained. Prior to the capture of the town, most of the local

population fled their homes and are now camped in KM 50 and other neighboring

areas.