UN Security Council to Vote Today on UNSOM’s Transition

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NEW NEW YORK: The UN Security Council will today vote on a draft resolution authorising the transition of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to the UN Country Team (UNCT) over a two-year period, starting on 1 November. 

The 15-member Council will cast its vote on the resolution fronted by the UK which end the mandate of the UNSOM which was formed in June 2013 under resolution 2102.

The vote follows Somalia’s request in May this year which called for ‘termination of UNSOM’s mandate and called for the “swift conclusion of the necessary procedures for the termination of the mission by the end of the mandate in October 2024”

In August, Somalia dispatched an amended request to the Council following deliberations with the UN Secretary General.  The proposal called for restructuring UNSOM’s mandate with a limited scope that will include supporting state-building efforts, such as through inclusive constitutional review and electoral processes. It also suggested a mid-term review for the mission after one year to make necessary adjustments.

 UNSOM’s mandate was most recently renewed by resolution 2705 of 31 October 2023 for one year, until 31 October.

The transition of UNSOM comes as after the Security Council voted in August to transition ATMIS to AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). However, contention remains over the model of funding for the new security outfit.