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STORY: UNSOM / SOMALIA PUNTLAND SECURITY SITUATION
TRT: 06:03
SOURCE: UNSOM - Strategic Communication and Public Affairs Group (SCPAG)
RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. Credit Required: UNSOM Strategic Communication and Public Affairs Group (SCPAG)
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATS
DATELINE: 13 JULY 2024, SOMALIA
13 JUL 2024 MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
1. Wide shot, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), James Swan, walking to board plane, Mogadishu
2. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, boarding plane
3. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, writing down notes
4. Wide shot, aerial shot, terrain from plane
15 JUL 2024 GAROWE, SOMALIA
5. Wide shot, UN delegation arrival, Garowe Airport
6. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, Garowe Airport
7. Wide shot, UN convoy enroute to State House in Garowe
8. Med shot, UN convoy enroute to State House in Garowe
9. Wide shot, UN convoy arriving at State House in Garowe
10. Wide shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, at the State House in Garowe
11. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, Puntland State officials
12. Wide shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, Puntland State officials
13. Wide shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, the President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, other officials, State House in Garowe
14. Med shot, Puntland State officials, meeting at the State House in Garowe
15. Close up, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, meeting at the State House in Garowe
16. Wide shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, and the President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, address the media
17. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The President and I discussed his government’s continued focus on advancing development priorities and responding effectively to humanitarian needs. UN efforts support the Puntland Development Plan, which is in turn aligned with the Somali National Development Plan and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Humanitarian aid provided through the UN includes extensive support to address food insecurity, health needs, and the requirements of Internally Displaced Persons, among many other activities.”
18. Med shot, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni
19. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan
20. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“In my meeting today with President Deni, we discussed the security situation, and I commended Puntland authorities for their efforts in containing terrorist groups in Bari region, and for working to de-escalate clan conflicts over land disputes in Mudug region. The renewed incidents of piracy and the impact of the continued migration flows also require attention.”
21. Close up, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, meeting at the State House in Garowe
22. Med shot, officials present during the meeting
23. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“I welcome preparations by the Puntland Electoral Commission and the population of Nugal region for the start of the campaign for direct local elections, scheduled for 23 July in the three remaining districts, including Garowe. We hope these elections for local councils will build on the achievements of the local election held in May 2023, and further reinforce democratization as well as progress in the participation of women and youth.”
24. Pan shot, officials present during the meeting at the State House in Garowe
25. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“President Deni and I also discussed a range of national issues of importance, including the campaign against Al-Shabaab, the constitutional reform process, and the next election cycle. While Somalia has achieved tremendous progress in recent years, we all know many profound challenges remain.”
26. Wide shot, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, and the Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, shaking hands
27. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“In light of this reality, I expressed the view that it would be to the benefit of the Somali people if the country’s senior leaders – the Federal Government President and Federal Member State Presidents – could overcome any outstanding differences and find a way to work together, to agree on solutions to these national challenges, and then to take action in unity.”
28. Med shot, President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, addressing the media
29. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Said Abdullahi Deni, President of Puntland State:
“We discussed a wide range of issues including security, politics, development, and humanitarian issues. I am happy with the candid discussions we had, and I hope that these talks will lead to a deeper cooperation between the UN and Puntland.”
30. Close up, UN flag at the Garowe UN office
31. Various shots, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, during the meeting with the UN personnel in Garowe
32. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Acting UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“Let me once again reiterate the United Nations’ commitment to working closely with President Deni and his government to support the advancement of the people of Puntland and all Somalia.”
33. Med shot, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, and the President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, shaking hands
34. Wide shot, group photo
35. Various shots, Acting UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, departing Garowe
The top United Nations official for Somalia Saturday (13 Jul) visited its Federal Member State (FMS) of Puntland, where he discussed a range of local and national topics with its leader, President Said Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Deni.’
In relation to Puntland, efforts at improving security and lowering tensions figured prominently.
“We discussed the security situation, and I commended Puntland authorities for their efforts in containing terrorist groups in Bari region, and for working to de-escalate clan conflicts over land disputes in Mudug region,” said the UN Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.
He was speaking at a joint press encounter with President Deni in the FMS’ capital, Garowe. This followed meetings between Puntland's leader and Swan, as well senior members of the former's administration and senior UN humanitarian and development officials who formed part of the latter's delegation.
In his remarks, the Acting UN Special Representative also noted that renewed incidents of
piracy off the FMS’ coast, as well as the impact of continued migration flows through Puntland,
required attention.
On democratization efforts in the FMS, the top UN official welcomed preparations by the Puntland Electoral Commission, and the population of Nugal region, for the start of a direct local elections campaign there, scheduled on 23 July in three districts, including in Garowe.
“We hope these elections for local councils will build on the achievements of the local election held in May 2023, and further reinforce democratization as well as progress in the participation of women and youth,” Swan said.
On issues of national importance, President Deni and Mr. Swan discussed topics which included the ongoing campaign against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, the constitutional reform process, and the next election cycle.
The Acting UN Special Representative noted that, while Somalia had achieved tremendous progress in recent years, many challenges remained, and highlighted the need for agreement and cooperation.
“In light of this reality, I expressed the view that it would be to the benefit of the Somali people if the country’s senior leaders – the Federal Government President and Federal Member State Presidents – could overcome any outstanding differences and find a way to work together, to
agree on solutions to these national challenges, and then to take action in unity,” said Swan.
“To this end, I urge leaders in Mogadishu and Garowe, with the help of other Federal Member
State leaders, to take the steps necessary so that they can resume working together
cooperatively,” he added.
Another area highlighted during the meetings was the continued focus of the government of Puntland on advancing development priorities and responding effectively to humanitarian needs.
“UN efforts support the Puntland Development Plan, which is in turn aligned with the Somali National Development Plan and UN Sustainable Development Goals,” Swan noted in his remarks.
Mr. Swan travelled to Garowe with a small delegation of UN officials working in support of
Puntland and Somalia’s humanitarian and development goals. They included Crispen Rukasha,
the Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Ezana Kassa, the Head of Programme of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); and Prestage Murima, the Deputy Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operation in Somalia.
“Humanitarian aid provided through the UN includes extensive support to address food insecurity, health needs, and the requirements of Internally Displaced Persons, among many other activities,” Swan said.
“Let me reiterate,” he continued, “the United Nations’ commitment to working closely with President Deni and his government to support the advancement of the people of Puntland and all Somalia.”
This year, a budget of $120 million was allocated for humanitarian, development, peace- building, security sector reform and democratization interventions led by 14 UN agencies, funds and programmes active in Puntland’s cities of Garowe, Bosaso and Galkayo.
As part of his initial round of in-person meetings with Somali leaders, the top UN official has already visited the Federal Member States of Jubaland, Galmudug, and South West State. He met with Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in Mogadishu.
James Swan was appointed to his current position by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 14 May 2024. He previously served as the UN chief’s Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022.
