Somalia Takes Full Responsibility for Justice and Prison Services After UN Support Ends
Somalia has formally taken greater responsibility for its justice and prison services following the conclusion of a UNTMIS support programme aimed at strengthening national institutions and the rule of law.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia’s federal government has concluded a support programme provided by the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) to strengthen the country’s justice system and prison services, marking another step towards greater national ownership of key state institutions.
A ceremony to formally conclude the UNTMIS support programme was held in Mogadishu and attended by Somalia’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Maalim Mahmoud, federal and state officials, representatives of the United Nations and UNTMIS, members of the judiciary and corrections services, and international partners.
Maalim thanked the United Nations, UNTMIS and Somalia’s international partners for their support in developing justice institutions and prison services, including training, institutional capacity-building and efforts to strengthen the rule of law.
He said the conclusion of UNTMIS activities represented an important step towards enabling the federal government and Somali national institutions to assume full responsibility for the development and management of the justice system.
“The knowledge, experience and institutional capacity built during the period of UNTMIS support will provide an important foundation for further strengthening Somalia’s justice system and prison services,” Maalim said, according to officials.
The government said it would continue investing in justice and corrections institutions as national authorities assume greater responsibility for services previously supported by international partners.
The transition is part of Somalia’s broader effort to strengthen state institutions and reduce reliance on international assistance as the country takes on greater responsibility for security, governance and public services.
Justice and corrections have been key areas of international support in Somalia, where decades of conflict have weakened state institutions and limited access to formal legal and judicial services in many parts of the country.
International partners have provided training and technical assistance to judges, prosecutors, prison officials and other justice-sector personnel, while also supporting efforts to improve prison management and the rule of law.
The Somali government has increasingly emphasised the need to build sustainable national institutions capable of delivering justice and security services without long-term dependence on external support.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Sign up to The Insider
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
The conclusion of the UNTMIS programme comes amid a wider transition in the role of international organisations in Somalia. The United Nations has been gradually adjusting its presence and responsibilities as Somali institutions assume more functions.
Officials at the ceremony stressed that the end of the support programme should not be viewed as an end to international cooperation, but rather as a shift towards a partnership based increasingly on Somali leadership and institutional ownership.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of maintaining coordination between the federal government, federal member states and international partners to ensure that progress made in the justice sector is sustained.
Somalia’s justice system continues to face challenges including limited resources, uneven institutional capacity, inadequate infrastructure and difficulties in providing legal services across the country.
Prison services also face challenges related to overcrowding, infrastructure, staffing and rehabilitation programmes.
The government has pledged to address those challenges by strengthening national institutions and improving the quality of justice and corrections services.
Officials said the experience and expertise accumulated during UNTMIS-supported programmes would remain an important resource as Somali institutions take greater responsibility for the sector.
The ceremony concluded with calls for continued cooperation between Somalia and its international partners to protect the gains made in justice reform and ensure further improvements in prison services.
For the Somali government, the end of the UNTMIS support programme represents both a milestone and a test of its ability to sustain reforms and manage justice institutions with greater national ownership.
Authorities said they would continue working to strengthen the rule of law and ensure that justice and corrections institutions can provide effective services to Somali citizens.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.