STORY: Somalia hosts symposium for diaspora returnees

and local communities

DURATION: 4:17
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: SOMALI/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 28th/JUNE/2017, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST
1. Mid shot, banner of the meeting
2. Wide shot, panning shots of delegates in the meeting
3. Wide shot, facilitator leading the discussion
4. Med shot, group of delegates who attended the function listening
5. SOUNDBITE:(SOMALI) NAIMA ADEN ELMI, CHAIRPERSON SAVE SOMALI
YOUTH (SASOYO) ORGANIZATION
This is an opportunity for us to get to know and understand one another.
We need each other. Let us exchange contacts and have open and honest
discussions.

6. Wide shot, facilitator inviting the next speaker

7. Med shot, delegates listening during the function
8. Med shot, next speaker walking to the podium
9. SOUNDBITE:(SOMALI) MOHAMED ABDI ABDILLAHI, HIRSHABELLE MINISTER
OF PLANNING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DIASPORA
RELATIONS
The word diaspora has been used to mean people coming to Mogadishu but
I want them (diaspora returnees) to also go to the regions because that is
where the real need is. The issue of diaspora or locals is not important. To me
there is no difference between a citizen in the country and out of the
country.

10. Med shot, delegates who attended the function listening

11. Wide shot, speaker on the podium addressing the delegates
12. Med shot, group of delegates listening
13. Med shot, facilitator inviting next guest
14. Med shot, next speaker coming to speak on the podium
15. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) IMAN NUR IKAR, FORMER DEPUTY MAYOR OF
MOGADISHU
We will restore the glory of our country by reconciling the diaspora returnees
and the locals so that they can learn and benefit from one another. Somalia
was once great and used to extend charity to other neighboring countries.
 16. Wide shot, facilitator speaking during the workshop
17. Med shot, guests at the high table listening and taking notes
18. Close up, guest taking notes at the high table
19. Med shot, delegates chatting
20. Wide shot, delegates seated in the room listening
21. Close up shot, delegate listening
22. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) GARAAD SALAAD, PARTICIPANT
Such discussions and dialogue should continue and be extended to the
regions. The government can play a role in resolving this, by considering the
locals a little more.

23. Wide shot, facilitator giving participants microphone to comment

24. Close up shot, participant giving his comment
25. Wide shot, participant giving his comments as others applaud
26. Wide shot, facilitator giving the microphone to another participant to give his
comments
27. Med shot, participant giving his comment
28. Close up shot, participant taking photo with his phone
29. Med shot, Mohamed Abdi Abdillahi responding to the comments
30. Close up shot, participant listening
31. Close up shot, participant listening
32. Med shot, Former Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu responding to the comments
33. Wide shot, group of participants listening
34. Close up shot, participant listening
35. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ALI ABUKAR ALI, PARTICIPANT FROM THE DIASPORA
Diaspora returnees and the locals need to work together and consult each
other as regards plans for the country. They need to work together and guard
against anything that can start conflicts. We can only develop if we trust one
another and treat each other fairly.

Somalia hosts symposium for diaspora returnees and local communities

Mogadishu, 29 June 2017 - Somalia is hosting a two-day conference aimed at

enhancing relations between local Somalis and their counterparts in the diaspora.

The reconciliation conference is organized by the Department of Diaspora in the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Global Somali Organization (GSD) and the Save
Somali Youth Organization (SASOYO) with support from African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM).

The meeting is being attended by officials from the federal government and the
regional states, academics, local Somalis and diaspora returnees.
Unity and reconciliation of Somalis is one of the key issues Mohammed Abdullahi
Farmaajo promised to pursue after being inaugurated as the ninth President of
Somalia early this year. During the London Conference, representatives of the
international community urged Somalis to strongly pursue peace and reconciliation
to help stabilize the country.

Speaking at the opening of the conference Mohamed Abdi Abdillahi, the HirShabelle
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Diaspora Relations,
emphasized the need to resolve the differences between the diaspora returnees and
the locals to stability the country.

The word diaspora has been used to mean people coming to Mogadishu but I want
them (diaspora returnees) to also go to the regions because that is where the real
need is. The issue of diaspora or locals is not important. To me there is no difference
between a citizen in the country and out of the country, Mr. Abdillahi observed.

Mr Abdillahi urged the two groups to abandon false perceptions that cause discord
and instead unite in building the country.

According to some participants individuals born and raised in the country perceive
themselves as having more rights than the diaspora returnees, while the latter
believe they are better placed to contribute to the peace and stability because of
their superior education, experience and exposure.

The locals have also accused the diaspora returnees of taking up most of the plum
jobs in government, living them marginalized.

Though acknowledging the differences that exist between the two groups,
participants were confident that Somalia will overcome the challenges.

The former Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu, Iman Nur Ikar, who lived abroad before
returning to Somalia, urged diaspora returnees and the locals to work together to
help the country regain its past glory.

We will restore the glory of our country by reconciling the diaspora returnees and
the locals so that they can learn and benefit from one another. Somalia was once
great and used to extend charity to other neighboring countries, Ikar stated.

Naima Aden Elmi, the Chairperson SASOYO, urged the participants to seize the
opportunity and try to resolve their differences, for the betterment of the country.

This is an opportunity for us to get to know and understand one another. We need
each other. Let us exchange contacts and have open and honest discussions, Ms.
Elmi stated.

Garaad Salaad, a local, described the conference as timely and called for continued
dialogue to bridge the gap between the two groups.
Such discussions and dialogue should continue and be extended to the regions. The
government can play a role in resolving this, by considering the locals a little more,
Salaad stated.

Ali Abukar Ali, from the diaspora stated, Diaspora returnees and the locals need to
work together and consult each other as regards to plans for the country. They need
to work together and guard against anything that can start conflicts, Mr Ali
observed.

He said the country can only develop if the two groups trust one another and treat
each other fairly.

The workshop which began today, is expected to come up with resolutions that will
help bring the locals and diaspora returnees together.