STORY: Premature exit of AU troops from Somalia could

harm gains made on the security front, cautions visiting UK

Defence Secretary
DURATION: 3:23
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 31/JULY/2018, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot, AMISOM troop mounting guard of honor
2. Med shot, AMISOM troop mounting guard of honor
3. Close up shot, AMISOM troops blowing trumpets
4. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary Rt. Hon Gavin
Williamson inspecting guard of honor
5. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary inspecting
guard of honor
6. Close up shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary
interacting with the AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. General Jim Beesige
Owoyesigire
7. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary meeting the
AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. General Jim Beesige Owoyesigire
8. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) RT. HON GAVIN WILLIAMSON, THE UK DEFENCE
SECRETARY
“Coming here to Somalia for the first time has made a huge impression on
me. It’s been great to see the close working relationship we have with
AMISOM and so many different nations from right around the globe. What
has struck me are the real opportunities that Somalia presents”.

9. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary getting into
another room to meet AMISOM officials
10. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary meeting and
interacting with AMISOM officials
11. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary meeting and
interacting with Somali National Army (SNA) officials
12. Close up shot, Somali National Army (SNA) official interacting with the UK
Defence Secretary
13. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with Somali National Army (SNA) officials
14. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with Somali National Army (SNA) officials
 15. Wide shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with Somali National Army (SNA) officials
16. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with Somali National Army (SNA) official
17. Close up shot, Somali National Army (SNA) official interacting with The UK
Defence Secretary
18. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) RT. HON GAVIN WILLIAMSON, THE UK DEFENCE
SECRETARY
“The role they play is one that has sometimes been a little bit forgotten
around the world but it should be something that should be highlighted and
should be celebrated; because without the decisive action that has been
undertaken, without the work that they have been doing to deliver security,
Somalia would be in a very difficult place”.
19. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with officials outside
20. Med shot, Rt. Hon Gavin Williamson The UK Defence Secretary interacting
with officials outside
21. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) RT. HON GAVIN WILLIAMSON, THE UK DEFENCE
SECRETARY
“What we need to do is make sure that the Somali government has the
necessary capabilities and resources, to be able to deliver security within its
own borders. AMISOM has been playing an important role and the British
government has been consistent in making the case for continued support of
AMISOM because we don’t want any support to be withdrawn prematurely”.

22. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) SIMON MULONGO, DEPUTY SPECIAL

REPRESENTATIVE (DSRCC) OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION
COMMISSION
“We discussed a number of issues, particularly the ongoing support that they
give to the African Union and AMISOM, the transition plan implementation,
the activities that we are trying to scale up in Somalia, and also, we have
discussed the new resolution, AMISOM has certain tasks to undertake in
fulfilment of its mandate”.
23. Close up shot, AU flag blowing in the wind
24. Close up shot, Somali flag blowing in the wind

STORY

Premature exit of AU troops from Somalia could harm gains made on the security
front, cautions UK Defence Secretary

Mogadishu - UK State Secretary for Defence Rt. Hon. Gavin Williamson has lauded
the progress made on the security front in Somalia, but cautioned that the
premature exit of the AU troops from the Horn of Africa country, could have an
adverse effect on gains already made.
The Defence Secretary said the UK government was keen to ensure the exit of
AMISOM from Somalia is not undertaken, until the latter is fully capable of handling
the national security responsibility.

“The role they play is one that has sometimes been a little bit forgotten around the
world, but it should be something that should be highlighted and should be
celebrated; because without the decisive action that has been undertaken, without
the work that they have been doing to deliver security, Somalia would be in a very
difficult place,” the Defence Secretary said shortly after meeting with the AMISOM
Force Commander Lt. General Jim Beesigye Owoyesigire, the Deputy Head of
AMISOM Mr. Simon Mulongo and other senior AMISOM officials, at the Force
Headquarters in the capital Mogadishu, on Tuesday.

“We discussed a number of issues, particularly the ongoing support that they give to
the African Union and AMISOM, the Transition Plan implementation, the activities
that we are trying to scale up in Somalia; and also, we discussed the new (UN)
resolution. AMISOM has certain tasks to undertake in the fulfilment of its mandate,”
Mulongo explained.

The minister, who was making his first official visit to Somalia expressed the UK
government’s commitment to furthering support to the Somali National Security
Forces through capacity building.

“What we need to do is make sure that the Somali government has the necessary
capabilities and resources, to be able to deliver security within its own borders,” he
noted.

The Rt. Hon. Williamson also visited the AMISOM Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance Cell, where he interacted with the AU and Somali facilitators on
issues of child protection, gender and conflict related sexual violence.

He commended the “extensive cooperation” among diverse stakeholders, that is

enabling the reconstruction of Somalia.

“Coming here to Somalia, for the first time, has made a huge impression on me,” he
noted. “It’s been great to see the close working relationship we have with AMISOM
and so many different nations from right around the globe. What has struck me are
the real opportunities that Somalia presents.”

The UK government through the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UKMST), is
supporting the AU Mission in diverse ways and has bolstered training support to the
troops and their counterparts in the Somali security forces in Mogadishu and in the
federal states.

END