The United Nations has concluded its political mission in Somalia, bringing more than three decades of formal political and peacebuilding operations in the country to a close.
The withdrawal was completed on Saturday, October 31, 2026, following a two-year transition period agreed with the Somali government.
The mission began in 1995 as the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), established to support the country as it struggled with prolonged conflict involving armed militias, Islamist groups and criminal networks.
In 2013, the UN Security Council established the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to strengthen governance, support democratic development and promote the rule of law.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested the mission’s closure in May 2024, ahead of the expiration of its mandate later that year. He subsequently adjusted the request, proposing a two-year transition to allow responsibilities to be transferred.
During the transition, UNSOM was renamed the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).
The mission’s responsibilities have now been handed over to Somali government institutions and the UN country team.
Speaking on the development, UNTMIS officer-in-charge Raisedon Zenenga said the closure marked a change in the relationship between Somalia and the United Nations rather than the end of their cooperation.
He noted that the country had recorded progress since international efforts to support its recovery began, although several challenges remained.
Somalia continues to face security threats from Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has fought the government for about two decades and retains control over significant parts of central Somalia.
Efforts to contain the group have also come under pressure from reductions in international financial support. The United States’ withdrawal of funding for a key UN logistics operation has raised concerns about the resources available for ongoing military campaigns.
The mission’s closure comes months before Somalia’s planned parliamentary and presidential elections in May 2027. However, continued insecurity and disagreements between the government and opposition groups remain major concerns for the electoral process.
