Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUN / SOMALIA
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: UN / SOMALIA
TRT: 03:30
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 FEBRUARY 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters
19 FEBRUARY 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“Through our collective support, Somalia is demonstrating that a country can emerge from prolonged conflict to one that delivers for its people and acts as a force for good in the region.”
4. Med shot, UNSOM Head at dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The Federal Government of Somalia has made solid progress in recent months in the implementation of its priorities, including the completion of a critical security roadmap presented at the Somalia Security Conference on 12 December last year.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“Since my last briefing, Somalia has also gained admission to the East African Community, reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, secured the lifting of the arms embargo and most recently secured the endorsement of the African Union Executive Council for a seat on the Security Council in 2025-26. These are very significant achievements.”
8. Med shot, UNSOM Head at dais
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The Federal Government of Somalia presented its plan for the transition of full security responsibility to national ownership. International partners signaled their collective intention to support the Federal Government in countering insurgency and building a stable and prosperous future. As the ATMIS drawdown proceeds, Somalia has requested a new, repurposed, and smaller AU mission, focused on protection. This security umbrella will also be essential to enable the implementation of the UN mandate and the efforts of the wider international community in Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia is requesting an evolved UN logistics support package to strengthen national systems and capacity.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“Somalia remains resilient and the Federal Government’s commitment to its state-building agenda remains strong. The efforts of the campaign against insurgency are commendable, but much more is needed to ensure that its gains are sustained.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Catriona Laing, Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, United Nations / Head, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“Somalia’s humanitarian crisis remains dire. In 2023, Somalia experienced the worst drought in decades, followed by El Niño impacts leading to heavy rains and extensive flooding in October and November 2023. This affected more than 2.4 million people, inundated farmlands, and damaged critical infrastructure.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia / Head, African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS):
“We regret the recent political tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia following the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland. We echo the calls of the African Union, the Security Council, and other key international partners urging all partners to respect Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.”
16. Med shot, Somali Permanent Representative at dais
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Somalia:
“While the Somali Government affirms its keenness to exercise the highest levels of self-restraint, it reserves its full inherent right of self-defense to respond the threats stemming from violations to its territorial integrity and unity in accordance with provisions of international law.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
Briefing the Security Council today (19 Feb), the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Catriona Laing, said, "Somalia is demonstrating that a country can emerge from prolonged conflict to one that delivers for its people and acts as a force for good in the region.”
She also said that the Federal Government of Somalia has made solid progress in recent months in the implementation of its priorities, including the completion of a critical security roadmap presented at the Somalia Security Conference on 12 December last year.
She added that since her last briefing to the Council in October 2023, Somalia has also gained admission to the East African Community, reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, secured the lifting of the arms embargo, and most recently secured the endorsement of the African Union Executive Council for a seat on the Security Council in 2025-26.
She stated, “These are very significant achievements.”
UNSOM head also reported that Somalia presented its plan for the transition of full security responsibility to national ownership.
She added, “International partners signaled their collective intention to support the Federal Government in countering insurgency and building a stable and prosperous future. As the ATMIS drawdown proceeds, Somalia has requested a new, repurposed, and smaller AU mission, focused on protection.”
She noted, “This security umbrella will also be essential to enable the implementation of the UN mandate and the efforts of the wider international community in Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia is requesting an evolved UN logistics support package to strengthen national systems and capacity.”
Laing stressed, “Somalia remains resilient and the Federal Government’s commitment to its state-building agenda remains strong. The efforts of the campaign against insurgency are commendable, but much more is needed to ensure that its gains are sustained.”
She said, “Somalia’s humanitarian crisis remains dire. In 2023, Somalia experienced the worst drought in decades, followed by El Niño impacts leading to heavy rains and extensive flooding in October and November 2023. This affected more than 2.4 million people, inundated farmlands, and damaged critical infrastructure.”
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Souef Mohamed El-Amine, also addressed the Council today and said, “We regret the recent political tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia following the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland. We echo the calls of the African Union, the Security Council, and other key international partners urging all partners to respect Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.”
On Ethiopia, Abukar Dahir Osman, Somali Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stressed, “While the Somali Government affirms its keenness to exercise the highest levels of self-restraint, it reserves its full inherent right of self-defense to respond the threats stemming from violations to its territorial integrity and unity in accordance with provisions of international law.”
