STORY: U.S.

government donates new aerial surveillance

system to AMISOM
DURATION: 4:44
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 26/FEBRUARY/2018, BALEDOGLE SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot, The Special Representative of the African Union Commission

Chairperson, (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira arriving in Baledogle
to officiate at the launch of a surveillance system
2. Med shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira is received by AMISOM senior
commanders
3. Wide shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira is received by AMISOM senior
commanders
4. Wide shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US
military officers walking to inspect the surveillance system
5. Med shot, the Aerial Surveillance System
6. Wide shot, Aerial Surveillance System
7. Med shot, Ambassador Madeira listening
8. Wide shot, Aerial Surveillance System
9. Med shot, Aerial Surveillance System expert explaining to the SRCC on how the
system works
10. Wide shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US
military officers listening
11. Med shot, the surveillance system being prepared to launch
12. Med shot, a surveillance system expert
13. Med shot, SRCC Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US military officers looking
on
14. Wide pan shot, the surveillance system taking off
15. Med shot, SRCC Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US military officers looking
on
16. Close up shot, the Aerial Surveillance System
17. Close up shot, SRCC Madeira and the Charge d'Affaires, U.S Mission to Somalia
Martin Dale looking on
18. Med shot, a surveillance system expert
19. Close up shot, the Force Commander Lt Gen Jim B Owoyesigire; Deputy
Commanding General for the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA)
in Somalia, Brig General Miguel Castellanos, looking on
20. Med shot, SRCC Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US military officers looking
on
21. Wide shot, SRCC Madeira, senior AMISOM officers and US military officers
looking on
22. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
(SRCC) FOR SOMALIA
“We are launching today a force enabler which we have been requesting for over a
period of time, which has now come to fruition. This platform will provide our troops
with much needed real time intelligence that will facilitate AMISOM forces to detect
and monitor armed groups’ activities and strengthen AMISOM’s counter IED
(Improvised Explosive Devices) capability.”

23. Med shot, AMISOM senior officers listening to the SRCC Francisco Madeira
24. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
(SRCC) FOR SOMALIA
“Allow me to cease this opportunity, on behalf of the Chairperson of the African
Union Commission to thank the US government, more specifically the US
Department of State for its continued support to the African Union, not only with
this system but long before that, substantial amounts of money and resources that
the US has been putting and is still putting in capacitating the African Union to carry
out its mandate in Somalia.”

24. Close up shot, AMISOM Acting Police Commissioner Christine Alalo listening
25. Close up shot, AMISOM senior officers listening
26. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
(SRCC) FOR SOMALIA
“We are being empowered this way and it is important that Somalis themselves are
empowered because we and the Somali National Security Forces are like two sides
of a coin. We might be strong [but] if the Somalis are not strong, it won’t work.”

27. Close up shot, UNSOS Deputy Director Harjit Dhindsa listening to Martin Dale,
Charge d'Affaires, U.S Mission to Somalia
28. Close up shot, AMISOM officers listening
29. Med shot, AMISOM officers listening
30. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MARTIN DALE, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES, UNITED STATES
MISSION TO SOMALIA
“The United States is a very committed partner, not only to AMISOM but to our
Somali partners as well. We have been providing extensive assistance to AMISOM
partners, to Troop Contributing Countries, who we also honor and it’s been an honor
to work with you, as we facilitate peace and prosperity in Somalia.”

31. Wide shot, Martin Dale, Charge d'Affaires, U.S Mission to Somalia speaking at the
event
32. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MARTIN DALE, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES, UNITED STATES
MISSION TO SOMALIA
“Ambassador Madeira, we heard your voice, we heard you when you said you
needed enablers and that’s why we are here today. We are here to facilitate not only
the safety of your troops but also to help put increasing pressure on the terrorists so
that the people of Somalia can have a better life. Now is the time for everybody to
work together in unison. We all need to be working together to facilitate increasing
pressure. I hope that we can continue doing that, particularly as we talk about the
AMISOM security transition to Somali national security forces. It is a critical
component, the Somalis want to invest in their own security, in their own prosperity
and we are here to facilitate that.”

U.S. government donates new aerial surveillance system to AMISOM

Baledogle, 27 February 2018 - The Special Representative of the African Union

Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Madeira has
commended the United States for its continued support to the African Union Mission
in Somalia (AMISOM) in its fight against terrorism.

Ambassador Madeira made the remarks yesterday during the unveiling of a new U.S.
government-funded Aerial Surveillance System at the Baledogle Military Airfield, in
Lower Shabelle region. The system, which will serve as a force multiplier, is expected
to enhance the effectiveness of field operations conducted by AMISOM troops in
various parts of the country.

“It (the aerial surveillance system) is of critical importance to AMISOM forces as it

will go a long way in addressing one of AMISOM’s capability shortfalls. What we are
launching today is a force enabler, which we have been requesting for, over a period
of time, which has now come to fruition,” the SRCC said.

AMISOM has on numerous occasions appealed for force enablers to enable it launch
successful military operations against Al-Shabaab and liberate areas under the
control of the militants. The Mission plans to intensify operations to secure the
country as the gradual transfer of national security responsibilities to Somali
national security forces continues as planned.

Ambassador Madeira, who was accompanied by senior AMISOM officials, noted that
the platform will provide troops with much needed real time intelligence, which will
help detect and monitor armed groups.

He appealed to other development partners to emulate the U.S., which not only
supports AMISOM troops but also the Somali National Army (SNA). The SRCC said
strengthening Somali security forces was critical in achieving long term peace and
security in the country.
“We are being empowered this way but it is important that Somalis themselves are
empowered; because we and the Somali national security forces are like two sides of
a coin. We might be strong; but if the Somalis are not strong, it won’t work,” the
SRCC observed.

The Charge d’Affairs of the U.S. Mission to Somalia, Martin Dale, reiterated the
commitment of the U.S. government to aiding the African Union, the AMISOM Troop
Contributing Countries and the cause for peace in Somalia.

Mr. Dale expressed hope that the new surveillance system will go a long way in
executing successful military operations in the country.

“We are here to facilitate not only the safety of your troops (AMISOM soldiers) but
also to help put increasing pressure on the terrorists so that the people of Somalia
can have a better life. Now is the time for everybody to work together in unison. We
all need to be working together to facilitate increasing pressure,” he added.

The U.S. official called for continued cooperation in the fight against Al-Shabaab,
while supporting the Somali national security forces to develop their capacity to fight
terrorism and keep the country safe.

“It is a critical component,” Mr. Dale said. “The Somalis want to invest in their own
security, in their own prosperity and we are here to facilitate that.”

The ceremony was also attended by the Force Commander, Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire;
Deputy Commanding General for the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
(CJTF-HOA) in Somalia, Brig General Miguel Castellanos, and AMISOM Acting Police
Commissioner, Christine Alalo, among others.