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SHOT LIST:
19. Wide shot, Simon Mulongo, Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of
the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia speaking at the meeting
20. Med shot, Ahmed Isse Awad, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mahdi Ahmed
Guled Khadar, Deputy Prime Minister listening
21. Wide shot, DSRCC Simon Mulongo speaking
22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Simon Mulongo, Deputy Special Representative of the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia
“The diaspora and the people of people of Somalia need to come together and be
able to hold anything they want to lay their hands on, to able to succeed even much
better.”
26. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Hafsa Haji Elmi, Somali from the Diaspora
“The aim of this conference was to highlight how the diaspora can integrate with the
local communities and the contributions of the diaspora to the country. I think it is
important for each one of us to know that we are all Somalis, we only have one
country in this continent and it is called Somalia. Everyone has a duty to give back to
the country and integrate with local communities,”
27. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Mohamed Abdi Ali, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
“This is an important platform to enhance integration between diaspora and local
professionals, exchange ideas, knowledge and enhance interaction and
understanding. It was a successful event.”
STORY
Mogadishu, 10 April 2019 – The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation is making concerted efforts to enhance coordination between local
professionals and their counterparts from the diaspora.
The ministry held a one-day forum in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, aimed at
assimilating the two groups and encouraging them to inculcate a culture of sharing
ideas and experiences.
The well attended meeting graced by several government ministers, was supported
by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
“It is imperative that we put our differences side, unite for the sake of the country,”
Deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Ahmed Guled Khadar said in his address to the forum.
The Somali diaspora makes a huge contribution to the country’s economy through
remittances and in various sectors. Available statistics also show that professionals
from diaspora occupy at least 80-percent of positions in the government. The forum
by the government is part of efforts being made by the government to ensure equal
opportunities in the public sector to local professionals.
“It is the intention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance the engagement and
conversation between locals and the diaspora to rule out misunderstanding, attract
the diaspora back to the country and inculcate a culture of sharing of ideas, and how
to take advantage of existing opportunities to rebuild the country,” Ahmed Isse
Awad, the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs noted.
Speaking at the same event, the Deputy AU Special Representative for Somalia,
Simon Mulongo, urged the forum to contribute skills and resources to rebuild the
country.
“The diaspora and the people of Somalia need to come together and be able to hold
anything they want to lay their hands on, to be able to succeed even much better,”
Mr. Mulongo advised.
The annual forum serves as a platform where Somalis in the diaspora and local
professionals can share ideas and experiences.
Dr. Sadia Siyad, the Chancellor of Hano Academy - a vocational training school in
Mogadishu noted that while the Somali diaspora plays a significant role in the
country’s reconstruction process, dialogue with all stakeholders to elevate the level
of contributions and support to the country needs strengthening.
“I think it’s a great platform to start to have a dialogue, to actually come together as
Somalis and discuss what we can do as a community for our country to make a
difference,” Dr. Sadia said.
“I think it’s very important for each one of us to know that we are all Somalis, we
only have one country called Somalia. Everyone has citizenship duties which involves
giving back to the community,” said Hafsa Haji Elmi, a diaspora Somali.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation, Mohamed Abdi Ali, expressed optimism at the high level of discussions
at the forum.
The Diaspora Affairs department is a unit in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation; established to promote cohesion among diaspora
Somalis and enhance diaspora activities.
END