Mogadishu Liberation Anniversary - Unravel Travel TV

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• published: 10 Aug 2013
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The 6th of August 2011 will remain a day that many Somalis remember. It was on the night of the 6th that the extremist group al Shabaab was forced to flee their position in the capital Mogadishu, by members of the Somali National Army (SNA), backed by forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Back then the Islamic militants claimed their retreat was a tactical move, but they have subsequent lost most of their positions in other towns and cities in the Horn of Africa Nation. During their reign, the al Qaeda linked terrorist group al Shabaab used oppressive measures to instill fear on ordinary Somalis; they blocked many aid organisations from delivering aid to the thousands of Somalis, leading to the death of tens of thousands during a famine considered to be the worst experienced in south central Somalia in 60 years. In just two years after al Shabaab was forced out the city, Mogadishu has changed, tapping into the increased security gains and having a democratically elected president and government to bring some stability to a country that had been raged by two decades of war. AMISOM's deputy Force Commander Major General Simon Karanja talks about the improvement in the city since its liberation. "If you compare Mogadishu before the deployment of AMISOM, you will see the kind of insecurity this town had, and therefore once AMISOM was deployed and we expelled al Shabaab from Mogadishu, you can tell the kind of peace and tranquility that exists in Mogadishu." Said Major General Karanja, " These attacks are just but a few attacks that al Shabaab wants to carry out during this period of Ramadan. When Ramadan is over they will have exhausted their resources and will go back to normal". The al Shabaab fighters have reverted to hit and run insurgency attacks using suicide bombing and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) to try and continue their terror activities but their expulsion from their fixed positions in the city was a significant and strategic success that set the stage for other as AMISOM continues to help the Somalia government expand its control across the country. The city has experienced resurgence in areas of political, economic and sociocultural life. Business is booming with shops opened till late, markets and homes are being rebuilt and many Somalis in the Diaspora are opting to return home with the increased commercial flights traffic into the city. Abdul Majid Iman Mohamed is a shop owner in one of the many new shops sprouting around Mogadishu's Hamar Weyne market; he talks of the changes he has seen since the withdrawal. "Every year, we keep witnessing bigger changes and people are hopeful." Says Mohamed "People in the diaspora have come back and our customers have increased and we welcome them very much". Securing the capital Mogadishu was the first phase of the original AMISOM concept of operations. AMISOM has since completed the second phase, which entailed, helping the government secure major towns like Kismayo, Baidoa and Beletweyne, laying a platform for government to ensure that stability and economic development return to Somalia. SHOTLIST: DATELINE: FILE 2011, MOGADISHU 1. Wide shot, al Shabaab parading in Mogadishu 2. Wide shot, al Shabaab parading at the Mogadishu Stadium 3. Med shot, al Shabaab parading at the Mogadishu Stadium 4. Wide shot, Bakaraa Market streets scene 5. Med shot, shops at Bakaraa Market 6. Wide shot, Tawakal Bank in Bakaraa market 7. Wide shot, AMISOM officials preparing for an advance 8. Med shot, AMISOM troops moving forward during an advance in Mogadishu 9. Wide shot, AMISOM tank firing as soldiers set up a defense inside Mogadishu 10. Med shot, AMISOM troops passing through Bakaara market as Somali civilians look on DATELINE: 05 AUGUST 2013, MOGADISHU 11. SOUNDBITE AMISOM Deputy Force Commander Maj Gen. Simon Karanja. 12. Wide shot, Mogadishu street scenes 13. Med shot, Mogadishu streets 14. Wide shot, busy Hamar Weyne market 15. Med shot, busy Hamar Weyne market 16. Wide shot, clothing store in Hamar Weyne market 17. Med shot, women's wear on display 18. Wide shot, Abdul Majid Iman Mohamed (shop owner) arrange products in the shop 19. Med shot, Abdul Majid Iman Mohamed arrange products in the shop 20. SOUNDBITE Abdul Majid Iman Mohamed, Shop Owner. 21. Wide shot, billboard painting depicting the consequences of war 22. Close up, billboard painting depicting the consequences of war 23. Wide shot, rebuilt Monument of the unknown Warrior Unravel Travel TV http://www.unraveltravel.eu Unravel Travel TV on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/Unra... Unravel Travel TV Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Unra... Unravel Travel TV Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/un... Unravel Travel TV Website http://www.unraveltravel.eu Unravel Travel TV Snapchat traveltv #UnravelTravelTV #UnravelTravel