STORY: AMISOM and civil society organisations to

work together to secure peace in Somalia

DURATION: 3:54
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC
INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 25/JUNE/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Wide shot, AMISOM officials and representatives of Somalia’s civil society

organisations attending a meeting in Mogadishu
2. Mid shot, members of the civil society in the meeting
3. Close up short AMISOM Police officers in the meeting
4. Mid shot, Members of the civil society and AMISOM officials in the meeting
5. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) DR.OPIYO ODODA, AMISOM HEAD OF
STABILIZATION AND EARLY RECOVERY PROGRAM
6. “We had a meeting today with CSOs (civil society organisations), the purpose
of which was to expose civil society organisations to the activities that
AMISOM undertake in this country. Our intent is to work together with them
to see how we can exploit and have the opportunity to achieve peace in
Somalia by reaching as many people as possible.”

7. Wide shot, members of the civil society being addressed by an AMISOM

officer
8. Close up shot, Head of Protection of Human Rights Unit, Adebayo Kareem
seated with members of the civil society
9. Close up shot, members of the civil society listening to a presentation by an
AMISOM official in the meeting
10. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) REX DUNDUN, ACTING AMISOM POLICE
COMMISSIONER
“Civil Society Organisations represent Somalis. They know what is happening
in society, they have their ears on the ground, they feel for the common
Somali. In this regard AMISOM has to work in synergy with civil society
organisations.”

11. Close up shot, AMISOM military officer seated together with members of the
civil society
12. Close up shot, Civil society members listening at the meeting
13. Wide shot, Dr. Opiyo Ododa addressing members of the civil society
14. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) ADEBAYO KAREEM, HEAD OF PROTECTION, HUMAN
RIGHTS AND GENDER UNIT
“We will use a medium like this (consultative meeting) to identify specific
thematic issues that arise from activities in Somalia and see how we can use
CSOs (civil society organisations) to bridge gaps.”

15. Close up shot, AMISOM officer from Early Recovery and Stabilization
department listening to a presentation
16. Wide shot, Civil society members and AMISOM Police officer seated in the
meeting
17. Close up shot, Civil society members seated in the meeting
18. Wide shot, AMISOM Acting Police Commissioner, Rex Dundun, seated in the
meeting together with members of the civil society
19. Close up shot, a member of the civil society in the meeting
20. .Mid shot, Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner and members of the civil
society in the meeting
21. SOUNDBITE:(ENGLISH) ASLI ISMAIL DUALE, CHAIRPERSON OF WOMEN,
EDUCATION AND VOICING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
“AMISOM in particular, I'm very happy that they are in Somalia because
without them we would not have achieved what we have today starting from
2007. I believe they did a good job. My belief is they are our brothers and
sisters. People can give you material things like money but they cannot give
you their blood.”

22. Wide shot, civil society members and AMISOM officials seated in the
meeting.
23. Mid shot, civil society members seated listening to a presentation.
24. Wide shot, AMISOM officials and AMISOM Police officers seated in the
meeting.
25. Close up, participant listening during the meeting.
26. Mid shot participant listening during the meeting.
27. Close up shot, AMISOM Police listening during the meeting
28. Wide shot, Dr. Opiyo Ododa AMISOM’s Head of Stabilization and Early
Recovery Program, addressing participants during the meeting.
29. SOUNDBITE:(ENGLISH) OSMAN MUHIDIN MOALIM, CHAIRPERSON OF THE
SOMALI NON-STATE ACTORS
“I believe if we are trying to develop an exit strategy of AMISOM in 2021,
then a lot of contribution will come from the CSOs (civil society organisations)
in terms of peacebuilding, in terms of how security and peace actors can
work together and build stability in Somalia.”

30. Close up shot, a member of the civil society giving her remarks during the
meeting
31. Close up shot, a member of the civil society listening during the meeting
32. Wide shot, participants leaving at the meeting
AMISOM and civil society organisations to work together to secure peace in
Somalia

Mogadishu, 26 June 2019 - Top officials of the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) and the representatives of Somalia’s civil society have agreed to work
together to enable the peacekeeping mission achieve its key objectives under the
renewed mandate.

The agreement was reached during day-long discussions, which took place in the
Somali capital, yesterday.

The meeting, attended by senior officials of the civilian, military and police
components, took the civil society representative through AMISOM’s renewed
mandate, which was adopted by the United Nations Security Council late last month.

“The civil society are the representatives of the people, the eyes and ears of the Somali
people; therefore, there is need to have a structured formal engagement with the civil
society,” said AMISOM’s Head of Protection, Human Rights and Gender Unit, Kareem
Adebayo.

Under the new UN Security Resolution 2472/2019, AMISOM is required to drawdown

its troops by 1,000 by February 2020, conduct gradual handover to Somali security
forces, secure main supply routes, reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and conduct
targeted offensive operations that support the transition plan, among other
deliverables.

Mr. Adebayo said AMISOM will maintain close working relations with Somalia’s civil
society by organising monthly technical meetings as well as quarterly strategic
consultations which will involve senior officials of the Mission.

“We will use meetings like these ones to identify specific thematic issues that arise
from activities in Somalia and see how we can use the civil society organisations to
bridge gaps that arise,” he added.

The civil society is a key player in peacebuilding in the country and AMISOM plans to
work closely with local non-governmental organisations in implementing key activities
and programmes under the Somalia Transition Plan.

Speaking at the same function, Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, Rex Dundun,
said there was need for synergy between AMISOM and civil society organisations for
the benefit of the people of Somalia who yearn for lasting peace and security.

His sentiments were echoed by AMISOM’s Senior Civil Affairs Officer in charge of
Stabilisation and Early Recovery Programme, Dr. Opiyo Ododa, who noted that strong
relations with the civil society will enable the Mission’s programmes, aimed at
uplifting lives, reach the larger Somali population.
“Our intent is to work together with the civil society in Somalia in peacebuilding
initiatives to enable the Mission to reach as many people as possible,” noted
Dr. Ododa.

The Chairperson of Women, Education and Voicing Entrepreneurship (WEAVE), Asli

Ismail Duale, said the meeting discussed issues that need to be addressed in order to
strengthen the working relations between AMISOM and the civil society in Somalia.

“Without AMISOM we would not have achieved what we have today, hence it is time
for AMISOM and the civil society to work together,” observed Ms. Duale.

The chairperson of the Somali Non-State Actors (SONSA), Osman Muhidin Moalim,
also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying the input of the
civil society is crucial, especially during the transition period and even after AMISOM
exits in 2021.

“The civil society will have to play a major role in peacebuilding during the transition
period and even after AMISOM exits,” said Mr. Moalim.

The engagement meeting was also attended by the AMISOM Head of Political Affairs,
Babatunde Taiwo, AMISOM Police Coordinator for Operations, Ali Gwambal, and
AMISOM Police, Reforms, Restructuring and Development Coordinator, Maxwell
Chikunguru.

Yesterday’s meeting is a follow-on from an earlier one chaired by the Special

Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador
Francisco Madeira, which took place last April.

ENDS