STORY: On visit to Hargeisa, UN envoy highlights benefits of

cooperation and world body’s broad support

TRT: 5:25
SOURCE: UNSOM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP
RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for editorial
broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on
and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to
thenewsroom@auunist.org
CREDIT REQUIRED: UNSOM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 8-9/JANUARY/2020, HARGEISA, SOMALILAND

SHOT LIST:

1. Aerial shot, aerial landscape of Somaliland

2. Med shot, plane landing at Egal International Airport, Hargeisa
3. Close up shot, a Somaliland government official waiting to receive James Swan,
the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia
4. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan disembarking from the plane
5. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan and the Somaliland government official walking
6. Med shot, Hargeisa town
7. Wide shot, a drive through downtown Hargeisa
8. Close up shot, Somaliland flag
9. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan walking to meet with Somaliland’s President
Musa Bihi Abdi
10. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan and Somaliland’s President Musa Bihi Abdi
shaking hands
11. Wide shot, Somaliland’s President Musa Bihi Abdi shaking hands with other UN
officials
12. Med shot, James Swan and President Musa Bihi Abdi talking
13. Wide shot, James Swan and Somaliland officials at the meeting
14. Close up shot, UN officials taking notes
15. Wide shot, James Swan and Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin
Mohamud Faraton walking to address the media
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Somalia
“The United Nations welcomes initiatives aimed at building mutual confidence and
fostering dialogue between Hargeisa and Mogadishu. We believe there are many
areas in which greater cooperation could improve security, promote economic
growth, and improve the lives of the people,”

17. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan and Yasin Mohamud Faraton, the Foreign
Minister of Somaliland at the press briefing
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Somalia
“We welcome the inter-party dialogue and urge implementation of the recent
agreements that would enable preparations for elections to be held in 2020. We call
on Somaliland authorities to ensure respect for freedom of speech and assembly, as
well as the ability of political parties to organize and function – such political space is
essential for a credible process.”

19. Close up shot, Diversity Action Network (DAN) signpost

20. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan touring a wheelchair fabrication section
21. Close up shot, wheelchairs
22. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan looking at some of the finished wheelchairs
23. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan looking at prosthetics legs
24. tilt shot, prosthetics legs
25. Wide shot, wheelchair fabrication section
26. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan meeting with Diversity Action Network (DAN)
members
27. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan speaking during the meeting
28. Close up shot, a freewheel of one of the members’ wheelchair
29. Close up shot, a member of the Diversity Action Network (DAN)
30. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan meeting with Diversity Action Network (DAN)
members
31. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Somalia
“The UN’s work is diverse, but the common thread is that it aims to make a practical
and positive difference to the people and public services of Somaliland,”

32. Close up shot, UN envoy James Swan

33. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan meeting with the civil society
34. Med shot, members of civil society groups taking notes
35. Med shot, UN envoy, James Swan in a meeting with the Minister for the
Environment and Rural Affairs, Shukri Ismail Bandi
36. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan meeting with top officials from Somaliland’s
two opposition parties, the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) and the Waddani Party
37. Close up shot, Justice and Welfare Party officials
38. Pan shot, Waddani Party officials
39. Wide shot, Waddani Party officials meeting with UN envoy James Swan
40. Wide shot, Edna Adan Maternity and University Hospital
41. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan being welcomed by Ms. Edna Adan, the
founder of Edna Adan Maternity and University Hospital
42. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan and Ms. Edna Adan, the founder of Edna Adan
Maternity and University Hospital walking
43. Close up shot, outpatient wing
44. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan touring
45. Close up shot, a baby being immunised
46. Close up shot, a mother
47. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan and Ms. Edna Adan, the founder of Edna Adan
Maternity and University Hospital
48. Close up shot, Ms. Edna Adan, the founder of Edna Adan Maternity and
University Hospital
49. Close up shot, UN envoy James Swan
50. Med shot, UN envoy James Swan and Ms. Edna Adan, the founder of Edna Adan
Maternity and University Hospital
51. Pan shot, Edna Adan Maternity and University Hospital
52. Wide shot, laboratory
53. Pan shot, Cheetah Conservation Fund temporary rescue compound/centre
54. Close up shot, cheetah conservation signpost
55. Close up shot, cheetahs in cages
56. Med shot, cheetahs in cages
57. Close shot, a cheetah in a cage
58. Close up shot, UN envoy James Swan touring the facility
59. Wide shot, UN envoy James Swan being shown around

On visit to Hargeisa, UN envoy highlights benefits of cooperation and world body’s

broad support

Hargeisa, 9 January 2020 – The United Nations envoy to Somalia today flagged the
world body’s belief that confidence-building efforts and dialogue between the
authorities in Hargeisa and Mogadishu could bring about broad benefits in several
areas.

“The United Nations welcomes initiatives aimed at building mutual confidence and
fostering dialogue between Hargeisa and Mogadishu. We believe there are many
areas in which greater cooperation could improve security, promote economic
growth, and improve the lives of the people,” said the UN Secretary-General’s
Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.

The UN official was addressing the media after having met with Somaliland’s
President Musa Bihi Abdi and members of his cabinet. The visit was his second to
Somaliland in six months; on it, he also met with other stakeholders for discussions
on a range of developments.

On the issue of Somaliland’s parliamentary elections – which have been delayed

along with local elections – he said the United Nations encouraged “rapid progress”
to complete all the steps required for them to be held this year.

“We welcome the inter-party dialogue and urge implementation of the recent
agreements that would enable preparations for elections to be held in 2020,” Mr.
Swan said. “We call on Somaliland authorities to ensure respect for freedom of
speech and assembly, as well as the ability of political parties to organize and
function – such political space is essential for a credible process.”

In November last year, the United Nations and several other international partners
expressed concern about the long-delayed elections, noting that their delay was
having a detrimental effect on Somaliland’s democratic credentials and international
standing. They also voiced concern over both houses of parliament having their
terms extended.

The UN envoy also addressed the issue of longstanding disputes between the
regions of Sool and Sanaag, particular in the aftermath of fighting around Tukaraq in
2018, welcoming dialogue and constructive approaches to ease tensions and reduce
the risk of further conflict.

“We urge that these efforts be maintained and reinforced,” he noted.

In 2018, tensions led to an outbreak of fighting near the Tukaraq area of the Sool
region between Somaliland and neighbouring Puntland, with the violence taking
place amid an already-difficult humanitarian situation locally.

Somaliland support

On the issue of United Nations engagement with Somaliland, the UN envoy said that
the world body remains committed to continuing in this regard.
He noted that there are 16 UN offices, agencies, funds, and programmes active in
Somaliland, covering a wide range of governance, security, development, and
humanitarian programmes in areas ranging from giving support to primary schools
by equipping teachers with the skills and materials to provide a sound basic
education, to assisting internally-displaced people and refugees and supporting the
rule of law, policing and the justice system.

“The UN’s work is diverse, but the common thread is that it aims to make a practical
and positive difference to the people and public services of Somaliland,” Mr. Swan
said.

Range of meetings held

While in Hargeisa, the UN Special Representative’s meetings covered many topics

with a range of stakeholders, including political parties, civil society groups and a
disability rights group.

On Thursday, in addition to meeting with President Bihi, he exchanged views on

political developments with top officials from Somaliland’s two opposition parties,
the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) and the Waddani Party. He also met with
representatives from civil society groups, to hear their views on public and social
policies.

On Wednesday, the UN envoy met with Edna Adan, the founder of the Edna Adan
Maternity Hospital. The topics covered in their discussion included the fight against
female genital mutilation – a prevalent and potential lethal practice which Ms. Adan
has been at the forefront of efforts to end, along with the United Nations.

Mr. Swan also visited the headquarters of the non-governmental organization

Diversity Action Network, where he heard from officials on efforts to bring down
barriers against the inclusion and participation of vulnerable groups, such as persons
with disabilities.

The UN official ended Wednesday with a visit to a temporary rescue centre for
cheetahs, run by the Cheetah Conservation Fund. In addition to hearing about their
plight from the Fund’s staff, he was also briefed on them during his meeting with the
Minister of the Environment and Rural Development, Shukri Ismail Bandi, who also
spoke about broader environmental challenges.

*****