The United Nations has officially closed its political mission in Somalia after more than three decades of engagement, completing a two-year transition that transferred UNTMIS responsibilities to Somali institutions and UN agencies.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) – The two-year transition of the United Nations political mission in Somalia was completed today, in line with the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, bringing to a close more than three decades of United Nations’ sustained engagement supporting peacebuilding, state-building, governance and reconciliation in the country.
The closure of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) represents the final chapter in a continuum of political support that began with the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) in 1995, continued through the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) from 2013, and entered its final transition phase as UNTMIS in 2024. Under the two-year roadmap for the transition, agreed between Somalia and the United Nations, UNTMIS responsibilities were progressively transferred to Somali institutions, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, and the United Nations Support Office for Somalia (UNSOS).
“Today is not an end to the partnership between the United Nations and Somalia—rather, it marks the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another,” said UNTMIS’ Officer-in-Charge, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Raisedon Zenenga.
“The story of the UN’s political engagement in Somalia has been one of persistence, partnership and adaptation over more than three decades,” he added. “While significant challenges remain, the closure of UNTMIS comes after considerable progress by Somalia since the early years of international efforts to support the country’s recovery.”
A long journey
Somalia has undergone a profound transformation since the early 1990s, when the collapse of central state institutions and the outbreak of civil war ushered in decades of conflict, instability and humanitarian crises. The conflict sparked a major outflux of refugees and internal displacements, while protracted insecurity, contested electoral process and constitutional reform, and recurrent climatic shocks, including droughts and floods, compounded humanitarian needs and presented formidable challenges to the country's recovery.
Over the past two decades, successive United Nations political missions accompanied Somalia through critical stages of its peacebuilding and state-building journey, supporting Somali-led efforts to restore governance, rebuild institutions and foster national reconciliation.
These efforts were complemented by the sustained engagement of international partners, notably the African Union, whose successive peacekeeping support operations have played a vital role in creating space for political processes that enabled consolidation of state authority in different parts of the country. They have also been key in supporting Somalia’s security efforts, including operations against Al-Shabaab, which continues to pose a significant threat, and the country’s ongoing security transition.
During the years of UNPOS, the United Nations supported successive peace initiatives, national reconciliation efforts and the establishment of transitional governance arrangements. Building on these political gains and in recognition of the evolving political and security landscape, the United Nations Security Council established the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in 2013, with a mandate to provide integrated support to Somali-led peacebuilding and state-building priorities.
Over the following decade, UNSOM worked closely with the Federal Government, Federal Member States, civil society, women's and youth organizations, and international partners to support constitutional review and electoral processes, facilitate political dialogue and reconciliation, strengthen governance and rule of law institutions, and promote and protect human rights. Through its good offices, strategic advice and technical support, the Mission accompanied Somalia through important political milestones, including successive electoral processes and efforts to consolidate the country's federal system.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
These priorities continued to guide the Mission's engagement during its final phase as the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), established in 2024 to enable the gradual transfer of responsibilities to Somali institutions and the United Nations Country Team.
UNTMIS transition
The UN Security Council’s decision to transform UNSOM into UNTMIS in November 2024, following the Federal Government’s request to conclude the UNSOM mandate, reflected a growing emphasis on national ownership. Through its adoption of resolution 2753 in 2024, the Council established a two-year transition process leading to the Mission’s closure in October 2026.
Guided by a jointly agreed transition roadmap between the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations, UNTMIS worked closely with Somali authorities and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to implement the gradual transfer of mandated functions. The process sought to preserve gains achieved over the years, strengthen national institutional capacities and support continuity in national priority areas, including governance, constitutional review, reconciliation, electoral support, human rights and the rule of law.
While all UNTMIS functions were transferred to either Somali institutions or the United Nations Country Team, significant political, security and institutional challenges remain, requiring sustained national efforts and continued international support. The Mission's closure therefore marks a change in the nature of United Nations’ engagement in Somalia, rather than the conclusion of the United Nations’ support to the country's peacebuilding and state-building efforts, as emphasized by the UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia, George Conway.
“The United Nations remains a committed partner to Somalia through its resident agencies and broader country presence, supporting the country’s aspirations for peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity,” Mr. Conway said. “UN agencies, funds and programmes will continue supporting Somalia through development, humanitarian and human rights activities, working in partnership with national and sub-national authorities as well as civil society and the private sector.”
Reflecting on the occasion, the Officer-in-Charge of UNTMIS, Raisedon Zenenga, acknowledged that Somalia's progress witnessed over the past decades has been driven by the determination of the Somali people and the collective efforts of a broad range of stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society, traditional leaders, women’s groups, youth organizations, and regional and international partners.
He also paid tribute to the United Nations personnel who served in Somalia, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, and honoured the memory of those who lost their lives in the service of peace. Their dedication and sacrifice, he noted, remain an enduring part of the United Nations’ legacy in Somalia.
“Somalia today possesses national and federal institutions that did not exist when the UN’s political engagement began. Progress has been made in state formation, political inclusion, constitutional processes, human rights frameworks and the development of governance structures that enable Somali-led decision-making. However, continued engagement by the international community will remain important to sustaining progress and addressing outstanding priorities,” Mr. Zenenga said.
As UNTMIS concludes its mandate, the United Nations reaffirms it enduring commitment to the people of Somalia and to supporting Somali-led efforts to advance peace, stability and sustainable development.
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.
