SOMALIA / RAMADAN

In the past the holy month of Ramadan meant that residents of Mogadishu and other towns in Somalia had to brace themselves for fierce battles and increased attacks by Islamic extremists al Shabaab. Today Somali Muslims, like others around the globe, are currently peacefully observing the holy month of Ramadan. AU/UN-IST

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:25
• Production Date: 15 July 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: AFRICAN UNION - AU; AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA – AMISOM
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U130715c

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / RAMADAN
TRT: 2:25
SOURCE: AU/UN IST
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST
LANGUAGE: SOMALIA/NATS

DATELINE: 12 JULY 2013, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Mogadishu streets
2. Med shot, people walking in the streets
3. Med shot, people praying in a mosque
4. Wide shot, prayers being held in mosque
5. Med shot, more views of prayers being conducted
6. Wide shot, busy Hamar Wayne Market
7. Med shot, people walking around the market
8. Wide shot, woman selling fruits
9. Close up, fruits
10. Wide shot, man selling fruits at the market
11. Close up, bundle of money
12. Med shot, Ismail Hassan Mohamed, Fruit Trader chatting
13. Medium shot, Hassan packing his mangos
14. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Ismail Hassan Mohamed, Trader:
“Praise the Lord, there is a high demand for dates. People are buying dates, watermelons and mangoes for when they break their fast.”
15. Wide shot, women at the busy market
16. Close up, women putting potatoes into a basket
17. Wide shot, people at the meat market
18. Med shot, people lining up to buy meat
19. Med shot, man chopping up meat
20. Close up, meat being chopped
21. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Abdirahman Said Abdishakur, Market Trader:
“During this month of Ramadan, and despite the monsoon season, we haven’t witnessed any increase in prices so far. Our volumes are still the same and so we would like to reassure people. Praise be to God. This is a blessed month. It’s a blessed Ramadan.”
22. Med shot, woman making Samosas
23. Close up, woman making Samosas
24. Wide shot, woman frying the Samosas
25. Close up, Samosas in the frying pan
26. Med shot, fried Samosas
28. Med shot, mosque at dusk
29. Wide shot, Mosque at night

Storyline

Somali Muslims, like others around the globe, are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan after the sighting of the crescent moon this week.

In the past, the Holy Month meant that residents of Mogadishu and other cities and towns would have to brace themselves for fierce battles and increased attacks by Islamic extremists al Shabaab.

Al Shabaab was forced out of the capital and most parts of the country by the Somalia National Forces with support from African Union troops (AMISOM) in 2011.

Although the faltering al Qaeda-affiliated group still poses some risk to Somalia’s increasing stabilisation with its suicide bombings and explosives attacks, immense changes can be seen in the capital and other liberated areas.

Residents of the seaside city now walk freely along its streets, as market traders look to cash in on staples like flour, rice and fruits during the Holy Month.

Ismail Mohammed is a fruit trader in the bustling Hamar Wayne market.

He said ““Praise the Lord, there is a high demand for dates. People are buying dates, watermelons and mangoes for when they break their fast.”

This year, the month of Ramadan falls during the monsoon season and many feared that the prices for basic goods would skyrocket. However, increased security means the country now has a functioning port and reliable supply routes, which in turn means that more goods are available to mitigate the effects of supply and demand.

Abdirahman Said is a trader in Mogadishu he said that, “During this month of Ramadan, and despite the monsoon season, we haven’t witnessed any increase in prices so far” and added that “Our volumes are still the same and so we would like to reassure people. Praise be to God. This is a blessed month. It’s a blessed Ramadan.”

Somalia’s Prime Minister reiterated this week the Federal Government’s policy of amnesty to “youth who give up terrorist activities and surrendered to the security forces”.

After the military gains of recent years, Somalia’s authorities and its partners are now shifting their resources and focus to the humanitarian, political and economic needs of the country.

There are many hurdles ahead for Somalia, but the fact that most its people can now mark key religious and cultural events in a climate of peace and security is more than enough reason to give thanks and celebrate.