STORY: Former Al-Shabaab combatants

graduate from reintegration program

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SOURCE: UNSOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: SOMALI/ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 3/MAY/2016, BAIDOA, SOMALIA
SHOT LIST
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Med shot, a young man washing clothes

Wide shot, former combatants at graduation ceremony
Med shot, former combatants at graduation ceremony
Med shot, former Al-Shabaab combatants at graduation
ceremony
5.
Wide shot, former female Al-Shabaab combatants at
graduation ceremony
6.
Med shot, former female Al-Shabaab combatants at
graduation ceremony
7.
Close up, former female Al-Shabaab fighter
8. Wide shot, UNSOM, IOM and ISWA officials at the graduation
ceremony
9. Med shot, ISWA officials attending former Al-Shabaab
combatants graduation ceremony
10. Med shot, UNSOM officials attending former Al-Shabaab
combatants graduation ceremony
11. Med shot, UN and AMISOM officials attending former AlShabaab combatants graduation ceremony
12. Med shot, Women and traditional elders
13. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Malaq Deerow, head of
Traditional Council of Elders
We had an important ceremony today which has great
importance for all Somalis especially for the people of South
West because this program is all about saving young people.
Twenty males and 19 females graduated today. They were
taught how to interact with their communities, how to avoid
being brainwashed by militants, how to do business and how
to be part of the community. As traditional elders, we are very
happy about this. We thank all those who had a hand in these

programs including ISWA, local and international donors and

AMISOM.
14. Med shot, former female combatants attend graduation
ceremony
15. Med shot, former female Al-Shabaab combatant walking
16. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Batula, former Al-Shabaab
combatant
I was weak, fatigued, demoralized and suspicious of
everyone. I now leave this center full of confidence. I am like a
new girl. We were taught how to write in Somali, how to do
mathematics, wirte and read in English, first aid, how to do
business, how to interact with people. I am now confident and
my future is bright.
I request that the female safe house should not be shut down.
We want it to be expanded. We want more priority to be given
to women. There is a functioning center for men. We want one
like that for women. Women are the backbone of the
community. We do not want men to dominate everything.
17. Med shot, former Al-Shabaab combatants listening to
speeches
18. Med shot, Minster of DDR Hassan Hussein addressing guests
19. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Hassan Hussein, Minister of
DDR, ISWA
Today was a very important day where about 40 male and
female former fighters were successfully rehabilitated and
graduated from the Baidoa Transition Center. It was another
happy day for the ministry of DDR. We were able to persuade
these young people to embrace peace, not to kill each other
or kill innocent people, that there is life beyond Al-Shabaab,
that they can do business and be part of a productive
community. We expect the good work to continue.
20. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
21. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
22. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
23. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
24. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
25. Med shot, a former female Al-Shabaab combatant receiving
certificate
26. Wide shot, former female Al-Shabaab combatants pose for
group photo with UN officials

27. Med shot, former female Al-Shabaab combatants walking

28. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Nima, Former Al-Shabaab
combatant
I came to Baidoa fearing for my life. A friend of mine
informed me about this center. I realized that this center was
the only place I will be safe. I have learned a lot. There is real
difference in my life when I compare the time before I came to
this center and now. I was welcomed, given shelter, food and
above all training and counseling.
29. Wide shot, Baidoa transition center.
Former Al-Shabaab combatants graduate from reintegration
programme
Baidoa, May 3, 2016 - Thirty-nine former Al-Shabaab combatants
have graduated from the Baidoa Rehabilitation Center in Somalias
South West state, after completing a rigorous rehabilitation
programme.
The former combatants, 20 males and 19 females, received
vocational training and psychological counselling at the
Rehabilitation Center in Baidoa, which was established with funding
from the German Government. The United Nations Assistance
Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) trust fund supports the establishment
of a Safe House in Baidoa for the female ex-combatants from AlShabaab. Both programs were implemented by the International
Organization for Migration (IOM). This is the second graduation
ceremony for ex-combatants since the male center was established
in Baidoa. The center is considered one of the most successful
humanitarian projects in the country.
Many of the female graduates expressed optimism that they were
ready to return to the community and to make a positive
contribution to the development of the country. I came to Baidoa
fearing for my life. A friend of mine informed me about this center. I
realized that this was the only place I will be safe. I have learned a
lot. There is real difference in my life when I compare the time
before I came to this center and now. I was welcomed, given shelter,
food and above all training and counseling, said Nima, a former
combatant.
Batula, another former combatant, urged donors to continue funding
the project to enable more ex-combatants to benefit from the
facility. We want more priority to be given to women. There is a
functioning center for men. We want one like that for women.
Women are the backbone of the community.

The colourful ceremony was attended by representatives of the

Interim South West Administration (ISWA), among them, the Acting
President Hassan Ibrahim Lugbur, the ISWA Minister of
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, Hassan Hussein,
Governor of Bay region Abdirashid Abdullahi, and the Baidoa District
Commissioner and Mayor, Abdullahi Ali Watiin. The ceremony was
also graced by civil society groups, religious leaders as well as
traditional elders.
Hassan Hussein hailed the programme as a step in the right
direction, but said more work needs to be done to win over more
youths recruited by Al-Shabaab and reintegrate them into society.
Today was a very important day. We were able to persuade these
young people to embrace peace, not to kill each other or kill
innocent people. There is life beyond Al-Shabaab; they can do
business and be part of a productive community, he said.
Malaq Derow, the head of the traditional council of elders, thanked
donors and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in
rehabilitating ex-combatants. We had an important ceremony
today which is significant to all Somalis especially for the people of
South West because this program is all about saving young people.
They were taught how to interact with their communities, how to
avoid being brainwashed by militants, how to do business and how
to be part of the community, said Derow.
The Regional Women Affairs Coordinator, Muraya Mader, and
officials from UNSOM and IOM were also present at the ceremony.
UNSOM Chief DDR Officer, Patrick Loots, congratulated the excombatants for successfully completing the rehabilitation
programme, and urged communities to reintegrate them into
society.
"This is an important day; we celebrate the achievement of these
young people. I congratulate you all for the successful completion of
this program. The graduands are ready to go back to their
community and help themselves and their people," said Mr. Loots.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia has been at the
forefront in rehabilitating ex-combatants and helping in the
establishment of centers in other towns.