SOMALIA / MEDAL CEREMONY

STORY: SOMALIA / MEDAL CEREMONY
TRT: 3:09
SOURCE: UNSOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS

DATELINE: 16 JULY 2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) 5 soldiers lined up
2. Med shot, parade commander
3. Wide shot, medals and the UNGU officers on parade
4. Close up, medals
5. Med shot, parade commander issuing instruction
6. Wide shot, parade
7. Med shot, soldiers saluting Swan
8. Wide shot, Uparade commander salutes
9. Close up, Swan pinning medal on Col. Stuart Agaba
10. Med shot, Col. Agaba
11. UPSOUND (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia:
“The Secretary-General of the United Nations has awarded the United Nations special service medal to Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Rutekara Agaba in recognition of invaluable service rendered to the cause of peace and state building in Somalia.”
12. Wide shot, Col. Agaba saluting
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia
“Your work in protecting the United Nations in Mogadishu allows us to do our work in support of the Somali people.”
14. Wide shot, SRSG, James Swan, pinning medals on UNGU officers
15. Close up shot, SRSG, James Swan, pinning a medal on an officer
16. Med shot, SRSG, James Swan, pinning a medal on an officer
17. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia
“I also want to acknowledge and express appreciation for the excellent collaboration that exists between the UNGU, UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), the UN Support Office for Somalia (UNSOS) and of course with AMISOM forces in Somalia. All of these are efforts to contribute towards security not just here at the airport and Mogadishu, but also in the regions.”
18. Med shot, Major General Lakara, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander pins a medal on an officer
19. Wide shot, SRSG, James Swan, hands over certificates to Col Stuart Agaba
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General James Lakara, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Logistics and Plans:
“Overall, I think this contingent has delivered on it’s tasks and from the reports I have read, it has delivered. So, let me take this opportunity to congratulate UNGU 5 led by Col. Agaba for a job well done.”
21. Med shot, officers singing and clapping
22. Wide shot, officers singing and clapping

STORYLINE:

The United Nations top official in Somalia, James Swan, yesterday (16 Jul) awarded medals to officers of a United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) for distinguished service.

The soldiers, belonging to UN Guard Unit Five, were awarded the United Nations Medal for Special Service, normally conferred to military and police personnel who have served the UN with distinction.

“Your work in protecting the United Nations in Mogadishu allows us to do our work in support of the Somali people,” said Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia.

Swan lauded the collaboration existing between the United Nations security teams and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) personnel in Mogadishu and the regions, adding that the close working relations had contributed immensely in improving security in Somalia.

AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, Maj. Gen. James Lakara, who also attended the ceremony, congratulated the contingent for delivering on their tasks despite the challenges they faced.

“This contingent has delivered on its tasks and I take this opportunity to congratulate members of UNGU 5 for a job well done,” said Maj. Gen. Lakara.

The UN Special Service Medal was established in 1999 and is awarded to personnel who have completed 90 days of service with a UN mission or organization.