STORY: On visit to Garowe, UN envoy flags need for unity and

consensus to overcome federal-state impasse.

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DATELINE: 09 MARCH 2020 - GAROWE, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:
1. Drone shot – Garowe, Somalia.
2. Wide shot – Disembarking from flight: UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative
for Somalia, James Swan, at General Mohamed Abshir Airport in Garowe.
3. Wide shot – Puntland and Somali Flag at Puntland state house.
4. Long shot – UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan
meeting with President Said Deni, in Garowe’s State House.
5. Wide shot – UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan
meeting with President Said Deni and his cabinet.
6. Two shot – UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan
meeting with President Said Deni and his cabinet.
7. Soundbite: James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia.
“I shared the international community’s real concern about the risks posed by the
current political impasse between the Federal Government and Federal Members States
– it is the view of the United Nations that Somalia’s leaders must urgently come
together, in a spirit of national unity, to overcome differences and find consensus on
how best to move forward, in the interest of the Somali people.”

8. Various shots – UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan

meeting with President Said Deni and his cabinet.

9. Soundbite: James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia

 “President Deni informed me of plans to hold, in the coming week, a Puntland-wide,
inclusive consultation to discuss issues of importance issues of importance to Puntland
and the nation. I look forward to learning of the outcome of this positive initiative.”

On visit to Garowe, UN envoy flags need for unity and consensus to overcome federal-state
impasse
Garowe, 9 March 2020 – Progress and remaining challenges related to Somalia’s national
priorities for 2020 – including debt relief, holding ‘one person, one vote’ elections,
strengthening security and finalizing the federal constitution – were among the topics covered
today in a meeting of the leadership of Puntland State and the United Nations envoy to
Somalia.

“I also shared the international community’s real concern about the risks posed by the current
political impasse between the Federal Government and Federal Members States – it is the view
of the United Nations that Somalia’s leaders must urgently come together, in a spirit of national
unity, to overcome differences and find consensus on how best to move forward, in the interest
of the Somali people,” the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James
Swan, said.

The UN official was speaking after meeting with Puntland’s President Said Deni in the state
capital of Garowe, while on one of his regular visits to Somalia’s Federal Member States, during
which discusses local and national issues with state leaders.

“President Deni informed me of plans to hold, in the coming week, a Puntland-wide, inclusive
consultation to discuss issues of importance to Puntland and the nation,” Mr. Swan said. “I look
forward to learning of the outcome of this initiative.”

Their talks also touched upon local efforts on economic development, democratization and
security, including the new Puntland Development Plan – on which the United Nations team in
Puntland has been engaging and looks forward to further support – as well as the work of the
Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission, which ties into the Puntland Government’s moves
to implement its commitment to democratization and holding local elections.

The issue of recurrent violence in Sool and Sanaag was also covered in the discussions,
particularly the need to bring an end to it and create space for peacebuilding activities, and
ensure the necessary conditions to allow the United Nations to expand its support to the local
population.
ENDS