STORY: Somalias electoral officials return

home from AU observer mission in Ghana

DURATION: 3:40
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 11/12/2016, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
SHOT LIST
1.
Wide shot, officials of the National Independent Electoral
Commission (NIEC) of Somalia, on arrival at the Aden Abdulle
International Airport
2.
Med shot, officials of the National Independent Electoral
Commission (NIEC) of Somalia meeting with Haji Ssebirumbi
Kisinziggo, Senior Political Affairs Officer at the African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
3.
Close up shot, Commissioner Said Hashi Warsame
listening
4.
Close up shot, Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo
5.
Med shot, Ms. Halima Ismail Ibrahim, the Chairperson
NIEC listening at the meeting
6.
Close up shot, Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed, the Deputy
Chairman of NIEC at the meeting
7.
Wide shot, officials of the National Independent Electoral
Commission meeting with Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo
8.
SOUNDBITE: (English) Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed,
Deputy Chairman of NIEC
We hope to hold a one-man-one-vote in this country, one day.
The road is long but it is not early to start preparations. We have
learnt a lot. On our second day in Ghana, we had a briefing with
the Electoral Commission of Ghana and at that briefing, they
gave us a schedule, detailing activities that would take place
from December 2-7 and everything ran as per plan. While there,
we also witnessed the preparations for elections and took note of
the equipment and materials meant for polling stations.
Everything was as planned.
9.
Med shot, Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed, the Deputy
Chairman of NIEC and Commissioner Said Hashi Warsame

10. Wide shot, Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed, the Deputy

Chairman of NIEC, Commissioner Said Hashi Warsame and Haji
Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo,
Senior Political Affairs Officer at the African Union Mission
in Somalia (AMISOM)
This mission that was in Ghana was part of the support that we
are providing to the National Independent Electoral Commission
so that they can learn lessons from other countries which they
can integrate into their activities here. We welcome them back
and hope that what they have picked from Ghana, which is a star
in terms of democracy, will be integrated and used in the
programmes, policies and preparations for one-person-one-vote
towards 2020.
12. Close up shot, Commissioner Said Hashi Warsame at the
meeting
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ms. Halima Ismail Ibrahim,
the Chairperson NIEC
Somalia has been out of the picture of the African continent for
a long time but we want to reclaim our position. There was a
period when Somalia was very active and powerful, engaging and
having cordial relations with other African countries. We have
been out of that picture for a long time and having this
opportunity will win us acceptance.
14. Med shot, Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed and Haji
Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo
15. Wide shot, officials of the National Independent Electoral
Commission meeting with Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo
Somalias electoral officials return home from AU observer
mission in Ghana
Mogadishu, 11 December 2016 - Two officials of the National
Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) of Somalia, today
returned from Ghana where they had been deployed as part of the
African Union (AU) Election Observation Mission, in the just
concluded elections.
Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed, the Deputy Chairman of NIEC and Said
Hashi Warsame, a Commissioner, were facilitated by the African
Union (AU) to travel to Ghana where they spent more than a week,
observing and acquainting themselves with election best practices.
The two returned home Sunday morning after serving as observers
in Ghanas cities of Accra and Ashanti. They were received at the
Aden Abdulle International Airport by Ms. Halima Ismail Ibrahim, the

Chairperson NIEC, and Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo, a Senior Political

Affairs Officer at the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The officials described their mission to Ghana as beneficial, adding
that they learned best practices of holding and managing a general
election, which will be useful in the preparations for one-man-onevote elections in 2020.
We hope to hold a one-man-one-vote in this country, one day. The
road is long but it is not early to start preparations. We have learnt a
lot, said NIEC Deputy Chairman Sayid Ali Sheikh Mohamed.
Mr Mohamed said they witnessed preparations for elections and
took note of the equipment and materials used in polling stations.
AMISOM Senior Political Officer, Haji Kisinziggo, observed that the
mission to Ghana was meant to provide the commissioners with
learning opportunities and enable them draw lessons that will be
useful in the preparation and conduct of elections in future.
This mission that was in Ghana was part of the support that we are
providing to the National Independent Electoral Commission so that
they can learn lessons from other countries which they can
integrate into their activities here. We welcome them back and hope
that what they have picked from Ghana, which is a star in terms of
democracy, will be integrated and used in the programmes, policies
and preparations for one-person- one-vote towards 2020, Haji
Kisinziggo explained.
He noted that the trip to Ghana is part of a series of other initiatives
by the African Union, meant to shore up capacity of the NIEC in the
preparation and conduct of elections.
NIEC Chairperson, Ms. Halima, observed that the mission to Ghana
was instructive as it provided Somalia the opportunity to relate with
other countries to help reclaim the countrys lost glory.
Somalia has been out of the picture of the African continent for a
long time but we want to reclaim our position. There was a period
when Somalia was very active and powerful, engaging and having
cordial relations with other African countries. We have been out of
that picture for a long time and having this opportunity will win us
acceptance, Ms. Halima observed.
The AU observation mission comprised of observers drawn from the
Pan African Parliament, the Permanent Representatives Committee,
Election Management Bodies, Civil Society, Think Thanks, and
independent experts from 25 African countries.

Ends