- Title: UGANDA: Film on peacekeepers in Somalia targets public support
- Date: 13th January 2012
- Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (FILE) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS OF AU TROOPS ENGAGED IN FIGHTING IN MOGADISHU
- Embargoed: 28th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Uganda, Uganda
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAD18CK6MOX3MT5ZAVE6XYYMPA7
- Story Text: documentary film about African Union peacekeepers in Somalia premiered in Uganda this week as part of an ongoing effort to increase public support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Featuring mainly peacekeepers working in a hospital in the capital Mogadishu, the film aims to shine a light on some of the more positive aspects of the mission.
Central to the story is a man called Abdi whose tongue has been cut out, allegedly by the militant Islamic group al Shabaab leading the fight against African Union troops and the transitional government in Somalia.
Graphic scenes from the hospital of doctors inspecting and operating on Abdi's tongue may be shocking, but the film's makers say the point is to give audiences a realistic snap shot of life in one of the world's most troubled countries.
AMISOM has been operational since 2007, and was set to provide military support and peacekeeping to the weak transitional federal government of Somalia, fighting off various militant factions including the al Qaeda linked group al Shabaab.
It's hoped the film, "Hope in the horn of Africa" will encourage support for the mission at a time commanders are requesting more troops, equipment and finances.
"What are the expectations of the Somali people? They would like peace, how can we achieve that? More boots on the ground," Jeje Odongo, Ugandan defence minister told the audience after the film screening.
There are currently almost 10,000 mainly Ugandan and Burundian African Union troops in Somalia as well as hundreds of police and medical and humanitarian staff.
Felix Kulayigye, spokesman for the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) says he hopes the documentary will not only help give an accurate view of what Ugandans and other African troops are doing in Somalia, it will also persuade those who part of the mission their efforts are not going unnoticed.
"You all remember the misgivings about the mission, both national, regionally and internationally, misgivings some that were genuine, out of fear, others misgivings that were out of political differences internally, having said that we needed to show Ugandans what their children have sacrificed for," he said.
In the film doctors are also shown treating suspected al Shabaab militants, which film makers say is intended to underline the mission's mandate for peace and lack of discrimination.
The film is due to be screened in other countries in East Africa and abroad. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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