STORY: JUBILANT RESIDENTS WELCOME

AMISOM TROOPS IN DIINSOOR

DURATION: 4:33
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for
editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It
is not to be sold on and is restricted for other
purposes. All enquiries to
thenewsroom@auunist.org
CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC
INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: SOMALI/AMHARIC NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 23RD AUGUST 2015,DINSOOR, SOMALIA
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, Women sing as they welcome AMISOM ENDF soldiers to Dinsoor
town
2. Wide shot, AMISOM ENDF soldiers walking in town
3. Med shot, Women singing and clapping
4. Wide shot, Women singing
5. Med shot, residents looking on as AMISOM and SNA soldiers walk into town
6. Wide shot, SNA soldier on guard
7. Med shot, SNA soldiers on guard
8. Med shot, An elderly man singing
9. SOUNDBITE:(Somali) Shukri Iman Abdullahi
Al Shabaab fined my brother with 800,000 ($40) for he was consuming
tobacco which they had banned. So I begged that money from the people of
Dinsoor to save my brother. In Al Shabaab reign there was no freedom
whatsoever. They will interfere with your personal freedom, they used to
instruct us to have socks, have veils, there were a lot DOs and DONTs here
all the time We were fed up with Al Shabaab.
10. Wide shot, Residents singing and clapping together with SNA and AMISOM
soldiers in town
11. Med shot, Ibrahim Mohamed Noor, Dinsoor District Commissioner talking to
the residents
12. Close up shot, resident listening
13. SOUNDBITE:(Somali) Ibrahim Mohamed Noor, Diinsoor District
Commissioner
Dinsoor was the main headquarters of Al Shabaab. It was where they
masterminded attacks to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, it was where they
got finances and the garage nearby here is where they used to prepare the
explosives. This district is very strategic for the ISWA administration and Al
Shabaab knows it. Residents here will tell you how they slaughtered human
beings from every corner of Somalia in this town. Now that brutality is over
and there is no more explosives and financial collection for their evil actions.
14. Med shot, Burnt cars by Al Shabaab
15. Wide shot, Diinsoor Hospital
16. Close up shot, Sign post
17. Close up shot, Hospital sign post

18. Wide shot, Hospital bed in the compound

19. Wide shot, AMISOM and SNA troops on guard at the hospital compound
20. Close up shot, Hospital pharmacy sign post
21. Close up shot, Medicine on the floor
22. Wide shot, Medicine on the floor
23. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers talking to the residents
24. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers talking to the residents
25. SOUNDBITE:(Amharic) Col. Yemane Gabre Mikael, AMISOM Sector 3
Contingent Commander
We captured Baardheere in the morning around 8.00 am, no force entered
Baardheere before us. We also captured Dinsoor at 8.00 am, it was
announced by the media. The enemy did all it could to stop us before they run
away because these places are strategic positions, it was not expected that
they would leave easily. After this, we will continue fighting Al Shabab and
also if it is necessary by adding non-AMISOM forces so we can use any force
we have to destroy Al Shabaab. The future operations will be well analysed
and planned. We shall engage them by surprise attack using our forces
mentioned. This operation will continue in all the three regions of Bakool.
26. Wide shot, AMISOM soldiers talking to the residents
27. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers talking to the residents
28. Med shot, ENDF troops on patrol in Dinsoor
29. Wide shot, ENDF troops on patrol in Dinsoor
SCRIPT
Its early morning in Baidoa, one of Somalias biggest food baskets, situated
some 256 kilometres northwest of the capital Mogadishu and a group of
journalists are getting ready to board a flight to Diinsoor, one of the towns
liberated in July by the Somali National Army and AMISOM troops from the
Ethiopia National Defence Forces (ENDF).
Diinsoor was captured by AMISOM ENDF two days after the liberation of
Baardheere town. Todays trip is a fact finding one; to gauge the mood in the
town after the ouster of the militants.
It takes one hour from Baidoa by air to get to Diinsoor. At the airstrip in
Diinsoor, we are met by AMISOM troops. A quick briefing takes place and then
we board armoured military vehicles for a 7-minute drive into town.
On arrival, the seemingly sleepy town comes to life. Residents quickly
converge at the towns square; the women and girls line up the road on one
side; the elderly men and youth line up on the other side of the road.
And as we walk through the main street, the town comes alive with ululation,
clapping, dancing and singing. For the first time in many years, there is
evidence of relief and genuine happiness in the faces of Diinsoor residents.
Sounds of laughter rent the air, as residents mingle freely with the troops,
shaking hands and commending them for taking over Diinsoor, which had

been under Al Shabaab rule for more than 8 years. The women shed tears of
joy as they narrated their ordeal in the hands of the militants.
Shukri Imam Abdullahi, a resident of the town, cannot hide his excitement. Al
Shabaab fined my brother with 800,000 ($40) for he was consuming tobacco
which they had banned. So I begged that money from the people of Dinsoor
to save my brother. In Al Shabaab reign there was no freedom whatsoever.
They will interfere with your personal freedom, they used to instruct us to have
socks, have veils, there were a lot DOs and DONTs here all the time We
were fed up with Al Shabaab, he says.
Diinsoor was a lifeline for the Al Shabaab, as it was one of the remaining
strategic places where they got their financial proceeds. It was also the place
where they planned most of the atrocities they committed.
Diinsoor District Commissioner Ibrahim Mohamed Noor explains, Dinsoor
was the main headquarters of Al Shabaab. It was where they masterminded
attacks to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, it was where they got finances
and the garage nearby here is where they used to prepare the explosives.
This district is very strategic for the ISWA administration and Al Shabaab
knows it. Residents here will tell you how they slaughtered human beings
from every corner of Somalia in this town. Now that brutality is over and there
is no more explosives and financial collection for their evil actions.
A quick survey of the town reveals there was a halt in the provision of
essential social services during the Al Shabaab reign here. An example is the
Diinsoor Hospital, now a pale shadow of its former self. The derelict hospital
building has since the liberation of the town started minimal operations but
lacks drugs. The hospitals pharmacy is empty, with a few boxes of expired
drugs scattered on the floor. But thanks to partners, relief supplies started
arriving in the town in August. The government is also working tirelessly to
ensure a return of basic social services.
Like Baardheere, which was captured by a combined military force of
AMISOM troops from ENDF and KDF, Diinsoor was liberated without major
military confrontation.
The militants could not take the fire-power from the troops and many of them
retreated, when the troops approached the town.
We captured Baardheere in the morning around 8.00 am. No force entered
Baardheere before us. We also captured Dinsoor at 8.00 am, it was
announced by the media. The enemy did all it could to stop us before they run
away. Because these places are strategic positions, it was not expected that
they would leave easily. After this, we will continue fighting Al Shabab and
also if it is necessary by adding non-AMISOM forces. So we can use any
force we have to destroy Al Shabaab. Future operations will be well analyzed
and planned. We shall engage them by surprise attack using our forces
mentioned. This operation will continue in all the three regions of Bakool, said
Col. Yemane Gabre Mikael, AMISOM Sector 3 Contingent Commander.

END