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UN / SOMALIA
STORY: UN / SOMALIA
TRT: 3:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 FEBRUARY 2020, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
24 FEBRUARY 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“For Somalia to navigate the remaining challenges and achieve its ambitious priorities, all Somalia’s stakeholders must work together in the national interest. This responsibility begins with Somalia’s leaders. It is for them to engage in dialogue in a spirit of national unity and set aside narrow political interests to strengthen Somalia’s state, security and prosperity.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“While an important step, the new law regrettably does not address many outstanding questions necessary to implement the code. These questions relate to the locations of constituencies, how to guarantee 30 per cent of seats: for women, and the modalities to enable Somalis from across the country to participate.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“It is essential that the Somali government clarify its operational priorities and generates the necessary forces to enable operations to degrade al-Shabaab, defend recently recovered areas and reopen main supply routes. These must be conducted with respect for human rights and sequenced with the return of legitimate local governance, rule of law, and stabilization activities in order to be sustainable.”
8. Wide shot, Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The Food and Agriculture Organization is supporting the government to mitigate the potentially catastrophic impact on food security. I call on donors to urgently provide funding and support for the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan.”
10. Various shots, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON):
“We, at AMISON, recognize that there are still a number of important issues to be handed out to ensure unhindered and smooth implementation of the electoral law, but remain optimistic and confident that the momentum gained in the last two months will continue and (inaudible) whatever obstacles may stand on the way of the elections in the last quarter of this year will be successfully overcome.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13.SOUNDBITE (English) Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of the Somali Republic to the United Nations:
“In order for us to effectively and decisively deal with the threats posed by Al-Shabab to our citizens and allies in the entire region, providing direct investment to the Somali security forces is the surest way to attain this. We have courageous, committed men and women in uniform willing to protect their people against a brutal enemy. We are however facing shortages that would give our forces the requisite military edge over an enemy that is desperately determined to remain afloat.”
14.Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of the Somali Republic to the United Nations:
“I would like to assure you today, that we are bound and will respect the principle of holding elections on time and the peaceful and orderly transfer of power.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and the Head of the Mission in the county (UNSOM) James Swan said, “for Somalia to navigate the remaining challenges and achieve its ambitious priorities, all Somalia’s stakeholders must work together in the national interest. This responsibility begins with Somalia’s leaders.”
Briefing the Security Council today (24 Feb) in New York, the Special Representative James Swan noted that 2020 has the potential to be a transformative year for Somalia. A number of key national priorities are due to conclude and will impact Somalia’s trajectory for years to come, which include achieving debt relief, holding one person one vote elections, finalising the federal constitution, advancing the fight against al-Shabaab, and consolidating the federal state.
Noting that in 2020, Somalia will face a critical test of its state building progress through the holding of historic one-person-one vote elections, Swan said that the new electoral code has now been approved by the House of the People and the Upper House and signed into law by the President.
However, he said, “while an important step, the new law regrettably does not address many outstanding questions necessary to implement the code. These questions relate to the locations of constituencies, how to guarantee 30 per cent of seats for women, and the modalities to enable Somalis from across the country to participate.”
He called on the Federal Parliament in collaboration with the NIEC and in consultation with the Federal Government, the Federal Member States and other stakeholders to resolve these issues urgently so that technical preparations can get underway.
Turning to the security situation, the Special Representative paid tribute to the courage of the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia in confronting al-Shabaab.
Swan said, “it is essential that the Somali government clarify its operational priorities and generates the necessary forces to enable operations to degrade al-Shabaab, defend recently recovered areas and reopen main supply routes.”
He continued, “these must be conducted with respect for human rights and sequenced with the return of legitimate local governance, rule of law, and stabilization activities in order to be sustainable.”
On the humanitarian front, the Special Representative noted that vulnerable Somalis continue to face extreme humanitarian challenges. Back-to-back droughts, flooding, conflict and insecurity have left 5.2 million people in Somalia in need of assistance. This was before the worst locust outbreak Somalia has experienced in 25 years.
He said, “the Food and Agriculture Organization is supporting the government to mitigate the potentially catastrophic impact on food security. I call on donors to urgently provide funding and support for the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan.”
Briefing the Council via video link, Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, chief of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON) said, “We, at AMISON, recognize that there are still a number of important issues to be handed out to ensure unhindered and smooth implementation of the electoral law, but remain optimistic and confident that the momentum gained in the last two months will continue and that is whatever obstacles may stand on the way of the elections in the last quarter of this year will be successfully overcome.”
Also briefing the Council, the Somalian Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman reiterated his country’s unwavering commitment to continue working closely with the UN Mission in Somalia alongside AMISOM to ensure transfer of primary security responsibility from AMISOM to Somalia.
Osman also said, “in order for us to effectively and decisively deal with the threats posed by Al-Shabab to our citizens and allies in the entire region, providing direct investment to the Somali security forces is the surest way to attain this.”
He continued, “we have courageous, committed men and women in uniform willing to protect their people against a brutal enemy. We are however facing shortages that would give our forces the requisite military edge over an enemy that is desperately determined to remain afloat.”
He said that as Somalia enters a critical phase of democratisation, it requires concerted efforts, both domestic and international, to unreservedly support ongoing economic, political and security progress to ensure that vested interests do not get avenues to undermine the tangible gains the country has made over the last few years.
Noting that the current discussion on elections is now at fever pitch, the Somalian Ambassador assured the Council today by saying “we are bound and will respect the principle of holding elections on time and the peaceful and orderly transfer of power.”
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