STORY: UN WELCOMES CONCLUSION OF SOMALIA’S PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTION

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 16 MAY 2022, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot - Empty ballot boxes on display as Members of the Federal Parliament of
Somalia wait to vote during the presidential election.
2. Wide shot - Voting booths.
3. Med shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia cast their votes during the
presidential election.
4. Close up shot - Outgoing President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’ and
former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
5. Med shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia cast their votes during the
presidential election.
6. Med shot - The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan,
alongside officials and representatives of Somalia’s international partners, observing the
presidential election.
7. Close up shot - A Member of the Federal Parliament of Somalia tallies the votes during
the presidential election.
8. Med shot - Officials counting the votes during the presidential election.
9. Close up shot - Presidential candidates Said Abdullahi Deni and Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud.
10. Wide shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia and presidential candidates
witness the vote-counting during the presidential election.
11. Close up shot - Officials counting the votes during the presidential election.
12. Med shot - President-elect Hassan Sheikh Mohamud takes an Oath of Office
immediately after winning the election.
13. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative
for Somalia
“I would like to congratulate the newly-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on
his victory tonight, but also express our appreciation to the other candidates, and
particularly outgoing President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo,’ for
respecting the outcome and for continuing the Somali tradition of embracing whoever
wins and supporting them going forward – the atmosphere tonight, I think, was very
positive.”
14. Wide shot - Somalia’s presidential candidates occupy front row seats during the
presidential election.
15. Med shot - The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan,
talks to the Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, on the sidelines of the
presidential election.
16. Med shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia cast their votes during the
presidential election.
17. Close up shot – The Outgoing President of Somalia, Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed
‘Farmaajo.’
18. Med shot - Journalists covering the presidential election.
19. Wide shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, representatives of
international partners, and security officials inside the venue of the presidential
election.
20. Med shot - Officials counting the ballot during the presidential election.
21. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative
for Somalia
“There have been some difficult moments in this lengthy election. However, I believe
that tonight's process demonstrated that it was a genuine horse race, that it was a
competitive election, and that there was an opportunity for all of the candidates to
contest fairly, and, so I think this is an opportunity now to demonstrate that the
outcome is credible. Now it's time for Somalis and for Somalia's friends to come
together to support the new government as it is installed, and to work on the critical
national priorities that still face Somalia,” he added. “There's much work to be done,
and we look forward to being Somalia's partners going forward.”
22. Close up shot - The Speaker of the Lower House of the Federal Parliament, Adan
Mohamed Nuur Madobe, presiding over the election.
23. Med shot - Outgoing President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’
congratulating incoming President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
24. Wide shot - Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia listening to the speech by
the newly-elected President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
 25. Close up shot - The Deputy Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia
(ATMIS), Fiona Lortan, and other officials and representatives of international partners,
observing the presidential election.
26. Med shot - Newly-elected President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaking.
27. Wide shot - Newly-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other presidential
candidates escorted out of the election venue after the elections.

UN WELCOMES CONCLUSION OF SOMALIA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Mogadishu, 16 May 2022 – The United Nations in Somalia welcomed the conclusion of the
country’s presidential election today.

“I would like to congratulate the newly-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his
victory tonight, but also express our appreciation to the other candidates, and particularly
outgoing President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo,’ for respecting the outcome
and for continuing the Somali tradition of embracing whoever wins and supporting them going
forward – the atmosphere tonight, I think, was very positive," the UN Secretary-General’s
Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, said in the early hours of Monday morning.

The UN official was speaking at the conclusion of the election, at the venue in Mogadishu
known locally as the “hangar,” located near the Aden Adde International Airport, where he and
other representatives of Somalia’s international partners had been invited.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud won office on the third round of voting by the country’s
parliamentarians, after some twelve hours of voting and counting. There had been close to 40
candidates standing for the office.

The UN Special Representative flagged that the electoral process had been a long one, as well
as actively competitive – and that focusing on domestic and state-building priorities should now
become the focus of attention.

“There have been some difficult moments in this lengthy election. However, I believe that
tonight's process demonstrated that it was a genuine horse race, that it was a competitive
election, and that there was an opportunity for all of the candidates to contest fairly, and, so I
think this is an opportunity now to demonstrate that the outcome is credible,” Mr. Swan said.
“Now it's time for Somalis and for Somalia's friends to come together to support the new
government as it is installed, and to work on the critical national priorities that still face
Somalia,” he added. “There's much work to be done, and we look forward to being Somalia's
partners going forward.”

The UN official also noted that some of the country’s critical priorities include finishing the
constitutional review process, addressing urgent needs for improved development, security and
the current drought.

In a tweet later on Monday, the UN in Somalia also praised Somalia's parliamentary Speakers
and Deputy Speakers, the presidential election organizing committee and professional
parliamentary staff, as well as Somali security forces and the African Union Transition Mission in
Somalia (ATMIS), for ensuring Sunday’s orderly, peaceful, and secure presidential election, the
results of which have been fully accepted.