25 Jan 2012

UN / MAHIGA

The United Nations envoy for Somalia Augustine P. Mahiga today formally moved his office back to the country’s capital, Mogadishu, from neighbouring Kenya, where it has been based for 17 years. AU / UN

Posted at: January 25, 2012 3:17 pm

Duration: 01:56

Available in: SD

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STORY: SOMALIA / MAHIGA
TRT: 1:56
SOURCE: AU / UN
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS

DATLEINE: 25 JANUARY 2012, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, band playing music 
2. Wide shot, plane on tarmac at Mogadishu airport 
3. Various shots, Mahiga getting off plane being greeted by officials and diplomats

STORYLINE:

The United Nations envoy for Somalia Augustine P. Mahiga today formally moved his office back to the country's capital, Mogadishu, from neighbouring Kenya, where it has been based for 17 years.

Mahiga, who was received at the airport in Mogadishu by Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, other officials and diplomats, said he was delighted that the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) will now carry out its work from Mogadishu.

The last Special Representative of the Secretary-General to be based in Mogadishu was James Victor Gbeho, who worked with the now defunct UN Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II), and left in early 1995.

UNPOS was established shortly afterwards and has since been based in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Six UN agencies have permanent staff in Mogadishu.

After a ceremony to raise the UN flag at the UNPOS office, Mr. Mahiga proceeded to Villa Somalia where he was welcomed by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and presented his credentials.

He then went to the headquarters of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) where he inspected a guard of honour and paid tribute to the remarkable sacrifice of peacekeepers and the Somali security forces in advancing the cause of peace.

He gave his pledge to the Somali people that the UNPOS relocation to Mogadishu would herald the beginning of a new era of cooperation and political engagement as the current political transitional period comes to an end later this year.