Somalia Says No Longer in Need of UNSOM

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia is ending the operation of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as the Horn of Africa nation marks slightly over ten years since it established an internationally recognized government.

In a letter dated May 5, Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Fiqi notified the UN Security Council President Pedro Comissario Afonso that Somalia will not be requesting an extension of the mandate for UNSOM once it lapses later in the year.

“I have the honour to formally request the termination of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), following a thorough consideration of our strategic priorities,” the letter read in part, adding, “Going forward, the Somali Government will no longer request mandate renewal of resolution 2705 (2023).”

The letter added, “We believe that it is now appropriate to transition to the next phase of our partnership. We kindly request the swift conclusion of the necessary procedures for the termination of the Mission by the end of the mandate in October 2024.”

UNSOM as established on 3 June 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2102, ‘following a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations in support of the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia.’

The UN body was mandated to help build the Federal Government’s capacity to promote respect for human rights and women’s empowerment, promote child protection, prevent conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, and strengthen justice institutions

According to the UNSOM website the UN Security Council-mandated body is also tasked with monitoring, helping investigate and reporting to the Council on any abuses or violations of human rights or of international humanitarian law committed in Somalia, or any abuses committed against children or women. The Mission is also tasked with supporting the implementation of the National Security Architecture that was endorsed by the Federal Government and Federal Member States in April 2017 and the Comprehensive Approach to Security framework.

UNSOM has had a chequered history including instances where its leadership has had sour relations with the Somali government. On January 1, 2019, then-UNSOM head Nicholas Haysom was expelled from Somalia over allegations of political interference. This followed Haysom’s questioning the Federal Government’s role in the electoral clashes in South West state on December 2028 which resulted in the death of at least 15 people.