The Foreign Minister wrote the Security Council a letter requesting the end of a UN political mission that has advised Somalia on peacebuilding, security reforms, and democracy for more than ten years. Three unidentified UN sources told Reuters that the 360-member United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was taken aback by the request to leave after its mandate expires in October.
Somali authorities have moved to reestablish services and offer some security despite ongoing hostilities since 1991, which included a two-decade insurgency by militants associated with Al Qaeda. The 17 million-strong Horn of Africa nation is still one of the most dangerous and destitute in the world, nevertheless.
Separate from the political operation is the UN-mandated African Union safe-keeping mission, which is slated to expire this year and involve at least 10,000 soldiers. The three UN representatives attested to the veracity of the May 5 letter, which went viral on social media on Thursday. Comment requests were not answered by Somali authorities.
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The administration feels “it is now appropriate to transition to the next phase of our partnership,” although Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Moalin Fiqi did not provide any explanations in the letter. The letter was authenticated by a Somali presidential adviser, who also declared that Somalia no longer needs UN assistance to coordinate with the international community as it did under UNSOM.
The adviser stated, “UNSOM played a critical role, but now it outlived its usefulness,” noting that the mission cost a hefty $100 million a year. Expert on Somalia and co-founder of the Sahan think group, Matt Bryden, pointed out that the federal government has already charged UNSOM with meddling in internal matters.
While UNSOM has been attempting to reconcile the goals of the federal government with the aspirations of individual states for greater autonomy, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been attempting to centralize power through amendments to the constitution and other reforms, Bryden added.
“We should expect more assertive and unilateral federal government of Somalia initiatives with respect to constitutional revisions, federalism, and elections,” Bryden added.
As UNSOM put it to Reuters, Somalia’s request was “a testament to the work of the mission in support of the Somali authorities these past years.”. Established in 2013, UNSOM declared that other UN offices, notably humanitarian organizations, will carry on operating in Somalia.
