Thursday 31,October 2024 {HMC} Somali government has welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous decision to transition the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) into a temporary mission over the next two years, beginning November 1, 2024.
In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the Security Council approved the creation of the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), which will replace UNSOM, established in 2013 to support Somalia’s transition to democracy and rule of law. The new mission aims to shift UNSOM’s responsibilities to the Somali Federal Government and local UN agencies by October 31, 2026.
The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the decision aligned with its proposal to gradually phase out UNSOM, enabling Somalia to strengthen its sovereignty and institutional independence. The proposal, presented in August through UN Secretary-General António Guterres, came after months of collaborative discussions between Somali officials and UNSOM’s joint technical committee.
“This diplomatic milestone reflects the shared vision of the United Nations and Somalia for a peaceful, resilient nation, equipped to guide its own national agenda and engage as a strong international partner” stated the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The transitional mission, now called UNTMIS, will focus on supporting free and fair elections and human rights protection during its first year, with some responsibilities transferring to Somali authorities by the end of year one.
UN missions can only be deployed with the agreement of the host country. In Africa in particular, the UN has been facing hostility in recent years.
