9 Oct 2012

SOMALIA / KISMAYO

The city has become relatively peaceful as members of the Somali National Army and pro-government forces walk the streets daily in a bid to give confidence to the residents. AU/UN IST / AMISOM

Posted at: October 9, 2012 2:48 pm

Duration: 03:27

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: SOMALIA / KISMAYO
TRT: 3.27
SOURCE: AU/UN IST / AMISOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 4-8 OCTOBER 2012, KISMAYO, SOMALIA

SHOTLIST:

4 OCTOBER 2012, KISMAYO, SOMALIA
 
1. Aerial shot, Kismayo seen from the Indian Ocean

8 OCTOBER 2012, KISMAYO, SOMALIA
 
2. Wide shot, Port of Kismayo
3. Med shot, old building by the port
4. Wide shot, buildings at the port
5. Med shot, silhouette of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldier looking through a binoculars
6. Close up, AMISOM soldier looking through binoculars
7. Wide shot, boat on sea
8. Wide shot, Kisyamo city in the background
9. Wide shot, exterior of old port building
10. Close up, sign reading "Port Authority"
11. Wide shot, AMISOM troops and Somali National Army meeting business community
12. Med shot, meeting with Kismayo businessmen
13. SOUNDBITE (English), Col Cyrus Oguna, Spokesman, Kenya Defense Forces:
"Eighty percent of business here in Kismayo is basically charcoal business and a lot of it is still lying out there and so really they just wanted to know how that will be dealt with, and we did explain to them and again we have to consult further to see how whatever that is already out there can be gotten out or sold out so that they can be able to earn a decent living from what they have done so far."
14. Wide shot, AMISOM Convoy driving through huge piles of charcoal in bags
15. Tracking shot, bags of charcoal piled up
16. SOUNDBITE (English), Col Cyrus Oguna, Spokesman, Kenya Defense Forces:
"I think in terms of the overall security situation, I think it has improved tremendously, it is getting better and better everyday and we expect within the coming few weeks it will be a lot better, but now if you go into town they can wave back, so even their confidence is building."
17. Wide shot, people in Kismayo market
18. Med shot, woman and child
19. Wide shot AMISOM forces in the market
20. Med shot, AMISOM soldier talking to a boy
21. Wide shot, market stalls

5 OCTOBER 2012, KISMAYO, SOMALIA
 
22. Wide shot, Somalia National Army (SNA) soldiers at a street corner
23. Close up, pro-government soldier
24. Wide shot, SNA soldiers and pro-government forces on a "technical" vehicle
25. Close up, gun mounted on the technical
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Sheik Ahmed Madobe, Commander of the Ras Konboni Brigade (pro-government forces):
"You have seen the locals are still afraid because for almost four or five years they are under the control of al Shabaab by very strong hands, that's why the civilians hope that they will get a life or something like that. And I am very happy at now the situation is."
27. Med shot, SNA soldiers and pro-government forces manning the streets
28. Med shot, woman and child crossing the street
29. Wide shot, truck with young men on it driving past
30. Wide shot, AMISOM forces securing an alleyway
31. Med shot, women and children on rooftop 
32. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers standing guard
33. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers standing guard as kids play in background
34. Wide shot, AMISOM troops and SNA soldier
35. Med shot, AMISOM APC and troops patrolling
36. Wide shot, AMISOM convoy on the road

STORYLINE:

The port of Kismayo in southern Somalia has for the last five years been the lifeline of the al-Shabaab militant group, that used it for resupplying and also the export of charcoal to gain revenue for its extremist operations. The port, stretching several kilometers, has nothing to show for all the goods that have been exchanged on its shores. The buildings are rundown and rust and bullet holes have got the best of them.
  
The capture of Kismayo last week by the Somali National Army and pro-government forces, with support from the Kenyan Contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), has rendered a heavy blow on the al Qaeda linked group who taxed the local residences and business people to raise money for the movement. Having lost their economic hub, al Shabaab is believed to have been severely weakened.

With the security situation getting better in the Kismayo, officials from the AMISOM contingent have held meetings with members of the civil service and local business community as a way of bringing some kind of normalcy to the city.

But even under AMISOM's heavy security, these business men are still afraid to be filmed, as they fear they might still be targeted by al-Shabaab supporters believed to be hiding among the population in the city.
 
SOUNDBITE (English), Col Cyrus Oguna, Spokesman, Kenya Defense Forces:
"Eighty percent of business here in Kismayo is basically charcoal business and a lot of it is still lying out there and so really they just wanted to know how that will be dealt with, and we did explain to them and again we have to consult further to see how whatever that is already out there can be gotten out or sold out so that they can be able to earn a decent living from what they have done so far."

In 2008 among other sanctions on Somalia, the UN prohibited all direct and indirect import of charcoal from Somalia. But  it is evident that charcoal is the local's main source of revenue.

The port of Kismayo remains closed for the moment until some sort of administration is formed to run the affairs of the city. On the streets more shops are being opened and the residents are beginning to interact with the AMISOM forces.

SOUNDBITE (English), Col Cyrus Oguna, Spokesman, Kenya Defense Forces:
"I think in terms of the overall security situation, I think it has improved tremendously, it is getting better and better everyday and we expect within the coming few weeks it will be a lot better, but now if you go into town they can wave back, so even their confidence is building."

The city has become relatively peaceful as members of the Somali National Army and pro-government forces walk the streets daily in a bid to give confidence to the residents. But with a handful of al-Shabaab supporters still believed to be in the city people remain cautious. 
 
The man in charge of security and commander of the Ras Konboni pro-government forces, Sheik Ahmed Madobe and his forces are running joint operations with the Somali National Army to provide much needed security.

He is confident things will soon get back to normal as residents see the difference between them and the al-Shabaab.
 
SOUNDBITE (English) Sheik Ahmed Madobe, Commander of the Ras Konboni Brigade (pro-government forces):
"You have seen the locals are still afraid because for almost four or five years they are under the control of al Shabaab by very strong hands, that's why the civilians hope that they will get a life or something like that. And I am very happy at now the situation is."

AMISOM through members of the Kenyan contingent are giving support to the forces on the ground. They are currently holding and defend all strategic locations like the airports and the seaport.

AMISOM troops can be seen driving through the town as their combat engineers help to search and destroy IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), believed to have been left behind by the militant group. 
 
Somalia has achieved a number of milestones in recent months, with the swearing in of a president and members of the legislative assembly, bringing an end to the political transitional period. Somalia had been without a functional transitional government since the early 1990's.

Over the weekend in Mogadishu, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, announced  Abdi Farah Shidon Saaid, as the country's new prime minister. His main task is the setup up of an effective central government.

Filed under AMISOM KENYA SOMALIA.