STORY: AMISOM and the Somali government reiterate

their commitment to eliminate Al-Shabaab

DURATION: 3:22
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 27/FEBRUARY/2018, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot, high ranking African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officials in a
meeting with their counterparts from the federal government
2. Med shot, high ranking AMISOM officials present during the meeting
3. Close up, Abdi Mohamed Sabriye, the Federal Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs
and Reconciliation
4. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
(SRCC) FOR SOMALIA.
“I want, as I’m surrounded by my Force Commander, by my Police Commissioner
and by my colleagues who deal with issues of security and policy, to reaffirm that
AMISOM and the Somali national security forces represented by NISA (National
Intelligence Security Agency), SNA (Somali National Army) and all other forces by
the ministry of defence, ministry of interior and AMISOM are one. All are united
in a common purpose (which is) defeating Al-Shabaab. We have together, much
as we expressed regret of what has happened, decided that we have to continue
in the common purpose, focused and pursue our objective of stabilizing the
country. We are going to investigate and find a solution that does not interfere
with our desire, our determination to move together in the common purpose.
Mr. Minister, the fact that we’re here together with the Director-General of
NISA, his deputy and yourself and ourselves, it’s a clear statement that nothing,
nothing, neither Al-Shabaab nor any kind of differences between us will divert us
from our purposes, will interfere with our unity.”

5. Wide shot, officials present during the meeting

6. Med shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Lt. Gen. Jim
Owoyesigire, AMISOM Force Commander
7. Close up, an official present during the high level meeting
8. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ABDI MOHAMED SABRIYE, FEDERAL MINISTER OF
INTERIOR, FEDERAL AFFAIRS AND RECONCILIATION.
 “In fact, that incident happened accidentally. When we came to know about the
circumstances of the unplanned issue between the two troops, we agreed as the
Somali government and AMISOM to remedy that matter, to investigate it fully
and have a decision based on the investigations. Also, most importantly, we
agreed that the different troops in Somalia, whether NISA, the military, police or
AMISOM, all have the same goal of assisting and complementing each other. It’s
essential when such incidents occur to discuss it in a calm, responsible way and
reach an amicable solution.”

9. Wide shot, high ranking officials at the end of the meeting

10. Med shot, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Abdi
Mohamed Sabriye, the Federal Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and
Reconciliation

AMISOM and the Somali government reiterate their commitment to eliminate Al-
Shabaab

Mogadishu, 27 February 2018 - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and
the Somali government have pledged to complement each other in the fight against
the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

The announcement comes four days after a twin bomb attack in the capital,
Mogadishu, killed at least 50 people and a subsequent shootout, between AMISOM
soldiers and the National Intelligence Service Agency (NISA) officers, left one officer
dead.

The pledge was made by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, and
the Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, Abdi Mohamed Sabriye,
at a joint press briefing in Mogadishu today.

“I wanted, as I’m surrounded by my Force Commander, my Police Commissioner and

my colleagues who deal with issues of security and policy, to reaffirm that AMISOM
and the Somali national security forces represented by NISA, Somali National Army
(SNA) and all other forces by the ministry of defense, ministry of interior and
AMISOM are one. All are united in a common purpose (which is) defeating Al-
Shabaab,” Ambassador Madeira said.

The SRCC regretted the shootout incident that also left two NISA officers and four
civilians injured, after both AMISOM soldiers and Somali national security officers
responded to the twin terror attack that took place near Villa Somalia and the
intelligence headquarters.
“We are going to investigate and find a solution that does not interfere with our
desire, our determination to move together in the common purpose,” Mr. Madeira
stated.

“Together, much as we expressed regret of what has happened, decided that we

have to continue in the common purpose, focused and pursue our objective of
stabilizing the country,” the SRCC, who was accompanied by Force Commander, Lt.
Gen. Jim Owoyesigire, and the Acting Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo, said.

Mr. Sabriye, who also spoke at the press briefing, termed the shootout incident
regrettable, noting that it will be fully investigated.

“In fact, that incident happened accidentally. When we came to know about the
circumstances of the unplanned issue between the two troops, we agreed as the
Somali government and AMISOM to remedy that matter, to investigate it fully and
have a decision based on the outcome of the investigations,” the Federal Minister
noted.

Mr. Sabriye reiterated Ambassador Madeira remarks, emphasizing that all security
forces operating in Somalia had the same goal of defeating Al-Shabaab and must
support each other.

“Also most importantly, we agreed that the different troops in Somalia whether
NISA, the military, police or AMISOM, all have the same goal of assisting and
complementing each other. It’s essential when such incidents occur to discuss it in a
calm, responsible way and reach an amicable solution,” the minister added.

Present at the press conference was the Minister of Defense Mohamed Mursal
Sheikh and the Director-General of NISA Hussein Osman Hussein.