STORY: AMISOM Force Commander Completes

Tour of Duty in Somalia

DURATION: 4:05
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 23/12/2015, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM)
Brig. Gen. Antonio Maggi, Outgoing AMISOM Force Commander, Maj.
Gen. Jonathan Rono, Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, officer in charge of
Mission, Maj. Gen. Mohammedesha Zeyinu AMISOM acting Force
Commander at the farewell sendoff for the outgoing AMISOM Force
Commander
2. Close up shot, EUTM training partner
3. Med shot, EUTM training partners at the event
4. Close up shot, AMISOM sector 1 contingent commander, Brig.
Sam Okiding at the ceremony
5. Close up shot, AMISOM senior officers at the event
6. SOUNDBITE:(English) Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, officer in charge
of Mission
I would really like to thank you for your service. Your service to AMISOM has
really been diligent. You have proved your mantle and you have really worked
sir,
7. Wide shot, AMISOM officers at the event
8. SOUNDBITE:(English) Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, officer in charge
of Mission
You have moved this mission from one point to the next point. Although being
in the mission you never know whether you are going forward or backwards
but there has been a big improvement, a big achievement and that has been
reflected by the many visiting delegations that have come to AMISOM,
9. Med shot, Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu gives a gift to the outgoing
Force Commander
10. Wide shot, Brig. Gen. Antonio Maggi
11. SOUNDBITE:(English) Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono, AMISOM
outgoing Force Commander
This is one mission where if there is no cooperation it can be very difficult to
move. I want to register my gratitude to the support that I have received from

UNSOM, Mission headquarters, partners who are seated with us here today
and have consistently been with us every stage. I thank you so much. I am so
delighted. Without your participation I think work would have been very
difficult. We would not be seated here to say bye,
12. Med shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono receiving a certificate from
Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, officer in charge of Mission
13. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers on parade
14. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers on parade
15. Wide shot, Outgoing Force Commander shaking with AMISOM
soldiers
16. Med shot, Outgoing Force Commander shaking with AMISOM
soldiers
17. Med shot, AMISOM sector 1 contingent commander, Brig. Sam
Okiding salutes the outgoing Force Commander
18. Close up shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono, AMISOM Outgoing
Force Commander
19. Wide hot, AMISOM soldiers mount a guard of honour for the
outgoing Force Commander
20. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers mount a guard of honour for the
outgoing Force Commander
21. Close up shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono
22. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers mount a guard of honour for the
outgoing Force Commander
23. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers mount a guard of honour for the
outgoing Force Commander
24. Wide shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono, AMISOM outgoing Force
Commander inspecting a guard of honour
25. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers mount a guard of honour for the
outgoing Force Commander
26. Wide shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono saying bye to Senior
AMISOM officers
27. Med shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono saying bye to Senior
AMISOM officers
28. Wide shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono saying bye to Senior
AMISOM officers
29. Med shot, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono, AMISOM Outgoing Force
Commander boarding a plane

December 23, 2015 - AMISOM Force Commander completes tour of duty

in Somalia
The Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),
Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono, has completed his tour of duty in the horn of Africa
country after 15 months of service.

Lt. Gen. Rono was seen off at Mogadishu Airport, today, by top AMISOM
officials from troop contributing countries, and Force Headquarters, among
them, Deputy Force Commander in Charge Operations and Plans, Maj. Gen.
Mohammedesha Zeyinu and Commander Sector 1, Brig. Sam Okiding.
A guard of honor by AMISOM troops was mounted in his honor to mark the
end of his Command of the 22,000-strong force in Somalia.
Earlier, at a related function, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of
the African Union Commission (SRCC), Ambassador Caetano Jose Madeira,
thanked Lt. Gen. Rono for his diligence and dedication to service during his
tour of duty in the Mission.
I would like to thank you for your diligent service to the people of Somalia
through your Command at AMISOM. It is because of this that Africa Union has
awarded you a medal of honor, as a symbol to the world that you have served
with valor, said Ambassador Madeira in a message delivered on his behalf by
Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, the Officer in Charge of Mission.
The SRCC described Gen. Rono as a dedicated leader of outstanding
performance, who has been instrumental in the execution of AMISOMs
mandate, which is establishment of a peaceful and stable Somalia.
Lt. Gen. Rono came to Somalia in September 2014 as a Deputy Force
Commander in charge Support and Logistics. He thereafter assumed the
responsibility of Acting Force Commander after the then Force Commander,
Lt Gen Silas Ntigurirwa left the mission upon completion of his tour of duty. He
served in the acting capacity until April this year, when he was promoted to
Lieutenant General and appointed AMISOM Force Commander.
Maj. Gen. Dludlu said under Lt. Gen Ronos leadership of AMISOM troops,
Somalia now has improved levels of security, despite the many challenges
faced. As a result, Somalia has seen an increase in the number of visitors and
also businesses have begun to pick up.
On his part, Lt. Gen. Rono attributed his achievements to support from the
Federal Government of Somalia and the team spirit practiced by all players in
the Mission.
Without the cooperation we have cultivated among ourselves in this mission
over time, it would have been very difficult to achieve our objectives. I want to
register my gratitude to the support that I have received from the Government,
United Nations, African Union, Mission Headquarters and our partners, who
have consistently supported and worked closely with us. Without your
participation, my tenure here would have been fraught with difficulty, Lt. Gen.
Rono said.
He further added that he was leaving Somalia optimistic that Al Shabaab and
other enemies of Somalia will soon be defeated, giving the country an
opportunity to return to its rightful place in the family of Nations.
AMISOM is an active regional support mission set up by the Peace and
Security Council of the African Union with the full support of the United Nation.

The Principal aim of the Mission is to provide support for the Federal
Government of Somalia in its efforts to stabilize the country and foster political
dialogue and reconciliation.

End