United Nations Concludes Its UNTMIS Operation in Somalia

Mogadishu – Today marks the conclusion of the two-year transition period of the United Nations Political Mission in Somalia, following the request of the Federal Government of Somalia. This step ends more than thirty years of continuous involvement by the United Nations in peacebuilding, state-building, governance, and reconciliation efforts in the country.

The closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) signifies the end of a phase of political support that the United Nations has provided to Somalia since 1995, when the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) was established.

This support continued when the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was launched in 2013, which later transitioned into the final phase, becoming UNTMIS in 2024.

As outlined in the two-year transition plan agreed upon by the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations, the responsibilities of UNTMIS have been gradually transferred to Somali government institutions, agencies, funds, and other United Nations programs, as well as the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).

The head of UNTMIS and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Raisedon Zenenga, stated that the closure of the mission does not mean the end of the relationship and cooperation between Somalia and the United Nations, but rather the beginning of a new phase.

“Today is not the end of the cooperation between the United Nations and Somalia, but it is the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another,” said Raisedon Zenenga.