STORY: African Union Mission transfers back

main university to Somalias government

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 11/JULY/2017, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Wide shot of a march-past of Somali soldiers.

2. Wide (side angle shot) shot of a march-past of Somali soldiers.
3. Wide shot of the Somali band brigade playing.
4. Wide shot of AMISOM soldiers and officials standing.
5. Medium shot of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador
Francisco Caetano Madeira, Mr. Abdirahman Dahir Osman, the
Federal Minister for Higher Education and other officials cutting a
ribbon, symbolizing the official handover of the Somali National
University to the government.
6. Wide shot of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador
Francisco Caetano Madeira, Mr. Abdirahman Dahir Osman, the
Federal Minister for Higher Education and other officials touring one of
the lecture rooms of the refurbished university.
7. Wide shot of several dignitaries seated at the official handover
ceremony of the Somali National University to the federal government
of Somalia.
8. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO CAETANO
MADEIRA - SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON
OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION (SRCC) FOR SOMALIA
We are transiting the (National) university of Somalia from
military barracks into an institution of higher learning and putting
it back into the hands of the Somalis.

9. Medium shot of several dignitaries at the official handover ceremony of

the Somali National University to government.
10. Medium shot of two dignitaries at the official handover ceremony of the
Somali National University to the government.
11. Medium shot of two dignitaries at the official handover ceremony of the
Somali National University to the government.
12. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Michael Keating - Special Representative
of the UN Secretary-General.
This is a very special day in terms of another marker going back
to normality and disentangling the role of security forces from the
role of civilian actors. This is symbolism of moving back to
civilian control of this campus and I hope its part of a much
broader trend all round the country.

13. Wide shot of several dignitaries at the official handover ceremony of

the Somali National University to the federal government of Somalia.
14. Medium shot of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador
Francisco Caetano Madeira chatting with the Rector of Somali National
University, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale at the ceremony.
15. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Michael Keating - Special Representative
of the UN Secretary-General.
The message to Somalis is a tough love one which is that the
more Somalis help themselves, the more the international
community will be able to help.

16. Medium shot of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the

African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador
Francisco Caetano Madeira with the Rector of Somali National
University, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale at the ceremony.
17. Wide shot of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General,
Mr. Michael Keating, Mr. Abdirahman Dahir Osman, the Federal
Minister for Higher Education, the Special Representative of the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia,
Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira and the Rector of Somali
National University, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale at the ceremony.
18. SOUNDBITE (SOMALI): Abdirahman Dahir Osman, the Federal
Minister for Higher Education
From our side as the Government that I represent, led by Prime
Minister Hassan Ali Khayre and President Farmaajo, we give
priority to security, economic development and importantly,
education. We believe that education is the lays the foundation for
sustainable development.
 19. Medium shot of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-
General, Mr. Michael Keating and Mr. Abdirahman Dahir Osman, the
Federal Minister for Higher Education at the ceremony.
20. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): Mohamed Ahmed Jimale - Rector of
Somali National University
The revival of the Somali National University has an impact. It
symbolizes the return of peace, security and stability.

STORY

African Union Mission transfers back main university to Somalias

government

Mogadishu, 12 July 2017 - Somalias premier institution of higher learning -

the Somali National University - was handed back yesterday to the federal
government by the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia after ten years of
being used for military purposes.

The handover ceremony held in the capital Mogadishu and officiated by the
federal Minister for Higher Education, Abdirahman Dahir Osman, heralds a
new phase for Somalias oldest educational institution.

We are transiting the University of Somalia from a military barracks back into
an institution of higher learning, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira,
the AU Special Representative for Somalia said.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Michael

Keating, described the handover as another marker of going back to
normality and disentangling the role of the security forces from the role of
civilian actors.

AU troops from the Burundi contingent entered the university in 2007, using it
as a small forward operating base, which later evolved into a battalion
headquarters. After the handover, the troops have been moved to the city of
Jowhar. We are here for a sort of triple celebration. One is to recognize the
role of AMISOM and in this case, the Burundi contingent, more broadly
AMISOM, working in partnership with the Somali security forces in securing
this place and so much of Somalia in the last difficult 10 years and I pay deep
tribute to that, Mr. Keating said at the handover ceremony.

The university is expected to start admission as soon as the government

gives its consent.
We give priority to security, economic development and most importantly,
education. We believe that education is the foundation for sustainable
development, Mr. Osman told guests, among them senior government
officials and Somalias international partners.

Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, Rector of the National University, said the revival of
the institution symbolizes the return of peace, security and stability to
Somalia.

Established in 1954, the university suffered extensive damage at the onset of

the civil war that broke out in 1991, leading to its eventual closure. However,
in August 2014, the university reopened its constituent colleges to offer
specialized training.

END