Exit UNSOM, Enter UNTMIS: What Changes?

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The UN Transition Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) was on Saturday launched in Mogadishu ending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) which has been in operation since 2013.

The coming into force of UNTMIS was in line with the UN Security Council 2753(2024) which terminated UNSOM’s mandate by October 30 and resolved to form UNTMIS.

According to the Resolution, UNTMIS is a two-year transitional mission whose mandate is set to lapse by October 2026. The Resolution mandates UNTMIS to carry on with most of the functions assigned to its predecessor as it prepares to transition into a UN Country Team.

These roles include state-building, including the constitutional review process and efforts to conduct free and fair elections; promotion and protection of human rights; rule of law, justice, corrections and security sector support; coordination of international donor support, working with bilateral and multilateral partners; and coordination of United Nations efforts in Somalia.

The Resolution further notes that in the first phase of its transition UNTMIS will complete the progressive and phased transfer, to the FGS, the UNCT and other stakeholders, as appropriate. This first phase will include the coordination of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and promotion of cooperation with relevant partners and Strategic policy advice on stabilization and disengagement of combatants, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. UNTMIS will also support to the FGS in implementing Somalia’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in addition to providing strategic policy on mine action.

The Transitional Mission will also provide technical advice and capacity-building to support the FGS and FMS in their efforts to promote child protection.