STORY: Town hall meeting discusses Somali draft electoral

law
DURATION: 2:17
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 29/SEPT/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot, banner

2. Wide shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
3. Wide shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
4. Med shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
5. Med shot, civil society official giving his remarks
6. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) HAJJI SSEBIRUMBI, AMISOM SENIOR POLITICAL
OFFICER
“AMISOM is here to support in the security front but also AMISOM is here to
support Somalia’s smooth and well organized political processes including
reconciliation, elections, and other activities such as local government
administration. Why we are here is purposely to provide that environment
for the Somalis to dialogue on topical issues and this time now, it is about
electoral law”.

7. Wide shot, Engineer Mohamed A. Nur, member of National Independent

Electoral Committee (NIEC) making his remarks
8. Med shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
9. Med shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
10. Wide shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
 11. Close up shot, Engineer Mohamed A. Nur, member of National Independent
Electoral Committee (NIEC) making his remarks
12. Wide shot, facilitator talking during the function
13. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ENGINEER MOHAMED NUR, MEMBER OF NATIONAL
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMITTEE (NIEC)
“We have established voter registration platforms and centers at all the
regional states and our offices in the regions are operational. We have also
trained our personnel and we can say we are ready 90% and we are
technically set. We are only waiting for parliament to pass the electoral law”.

14. Wide shot, Somali Women Development Center (SWDC) legal advisor Zahra
Mohamed Ahmed making her remarks during the function
15. Med shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections
16. Close up shot, participant listening during the function
17. Med shot, Somali Women Development Center (SWDC) legal advisor Zahra
Mohamed Ahmed making her remarks during the function
18. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ZAHRA MOHAMED AHMED, SOMALI WOMEN
DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SWDC)
“We are here to ensure women representation is effectively implemented in
the electoral laws. The review committee has already a good work by
specifying nomination and appointment positions and we will fight for our
slots in the elective posts as well,”

19. Wide shot, participants seated during the second town hall meeting and
panel discussion between the public, civil society groups, political parties, the
executive and Somali legislator on 2020/2021 one man one vote elections

Town hall meeting discusses Somali draft electoral law

Mogadishu, 29 September, 2019 - A town hall meeting and panel discussion that
brought together members of the public, civil society groups, representatives of
political parties and Somali legislators to review the 2020/2021 draft electoral law
was held in Mogadishu on Sunday, as one way of contributing to the review process
of the draft law and encouraging an inclusive and transparent electoral process.

Speaking during the opening of the panel discussion, AMISOM Senior Political
Officer, Hajji Ssebirumbi, said together with Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA),
Somali Institute of Public Administration and Management (SIPAM), the National
Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) and other partners, AMISOM was
supporting the electoral process by facilitating dialogue on the draft laws and
models governing the 2020/2021 election.
“AMISOM is here to support Somalia on the security front and also ensure that the
country has a well organized and smooth political processes including on
reconciliation, credible elections, and the establishment of local government
administration. We are here to provide an environment for Somalis to dialogue, and
this time it’s about contributing to the draft electoral law” Hajji said.

Hajji further said this was the second of a series of AMISOM facilitated town hall
meetings aimed at increasing public awareness on preparation for 2020/2021
elections adding that similar forums would be held in federal capitals around the
country.

Participants at this town hall forum had a question and answer session with
members of the Somali Federal Parliament, National Independent Electoral
Committee (NIEC), members of the Bar Association and representatives of political
parties.

Engineer Mohamed Ahmed Nur, from NIEC, said the commission was ready and had
the capacity to hold credible elections. “We have established voter registration
platforms and centers at all the regional states and our offices in the regions are
operational. We have trained our staff and we are technically ready. We are only
waiting for Parliament to pass the Electoral Law,” said Nur.

The legal advisor for Somali Women Development Center (SWDC), Zahra Mohamed
Ahmed, who was representing Somali Women Leaders Forum said it was refreshing
to note the participation of women in the town hall meetings.

“We are here to ensure that issues of women representation are reflected in the
electoral laws. The review committee has already done a commendable job by
specifying nomination and appointment positions and we will continue to push for
our slots in the elective posts as well,” said Ms Ahmed.