Somalia’s government has requested the termination of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which has been providing advice on peacebuilding, security reforms, and democracy for over a decade. Despite ongoing conflict and insurgency, Somali authorities believe it is time to transition to the next phase of their partnership with the international community. The decision to end the mission comes as the African Union is set to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from Somalia by the end of the year.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalin Fiqi did not provide specific reasons for the request but emphasized that Somalia no longer requires UNSOM’s support to engage with the international community. The move indicates a shift towards a more assertive Somali state, with plans for constitutional revisions and elections with less international intervention. Despite the end of UNSOM, other UN offices, including humanitarian agencies, will continue to operate in Somalia.