Somalia chairs U.N. Security Council for first time since 1972
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had been expected to preside over the session in person.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) -- Somalia has presided over the United Nations Security Council for the first time in more than five decades, marking a historic diplomatic milestone despite the absence of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was unable to travel to New York due to severe weather conditions in the United States.
The high-level Security Council session, held under the agenda item “The promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security,” was chaired by Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman Baale. Somalia last chaired the Council during its 1971–1972 term.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had been expected to preside over the session in person.
However, his planned trip was cancelled after extreme winter weather disrupted air travel across parts of the United States.
Somali officials say the cancellation was logistical, not political.
In a statement, Somalia’s Permanent Mission to the UN described the session as a landmark moment for the country’s re-engagement with multilateral diplomacy after decades of conflict and state collapse.
“Somalia presided over the Council for the first time since 1972 in its high-level signature event on the rule of law,” the mission said.
“For the betterment of all peoples and future generations, we must breathe new life into the UN Charter—matching words with deeds and recommitting to the rule of law among nations.”
The meeting featured briefings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, a former president and judge of the International Court of Justice.
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Speakers emphasized the central role of international law in conflict prevention and resolution, while several delegations called for stronger implementation of the UN Charter and reforms to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of the Security Council.
According to a concept note prepared by Somalia, the session aimed to reaffirm the importance of the international rule of law in maintaining global peace and security and to identify practical measures to strengthen compliance with international legal norms.
The president’s absence quickly sparked speculation on Somali social media, with some posts claiming he had been denied a U.S. visa.
The rumors were widely circulated by government critics and linked to unrelated claims about mismanagement of U.S.-funded humanitarian aid and a recent U.S. visa policy affecting several countries, including Somalia.
Senior Somali government sources have dismissed the claims as false.
“There was no visa denial,” a government official told Somali Report, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.
“The president’s travel was affected by weather-related disruptions, not diplomatic or immigration issues.”
Somalia holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for January 2026, with Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman overseeing the Council’s work throughout the month.
Somali officials say the presidency reflects the country’s gradual return to international leadership roles and its commitment to multilateralism.
Despite the president’s absence, diplomats say Somalia’s chairing of the Council—more than 50 years after its last turn—remains symbolically significant, underscoring the country’s evolving position on the global stage.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.