UN political mission in Somalia ends after more than three decades
Somali police officers lined up along a busy street in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a patrol on November 10, 2025. (Photo: VCG)
The United Nations has ended its political mission in Somalia, concluding a two-year transition that transferred its responsibilities to Somali institutions and other UN bodies.
The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) officially ceased operations on Saturday, marking the end of more than three decades of UN political engagement in the country.
“Today is not an end to the partnership between the United Nations and Somalia, rather, it marks the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another,” said Raisedon Zenenga, UNTMIS officer-in-charge and the UN secretary-general's deputy special representative for Somalia.
He said the closure followed progress in Somalia’s state-building and recovery efforts, although significant challenges remained.
The UN’s political engagement in Somalia dates back to 1995, when it established the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS). In 2013, the Security Council established the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which supported Somali-led efforts to strengthen governance, the rule of law and democratic institutions.
In May 2024, Somalia’s federal government requested a two-year transition of the mission’s responsibilities. The Security Council subsequently renamed UNSOM as UNTMIS, which began operations in November 2024.
Under a transition roadmap jointly agreed by the UN and the Somali government, the mission’s functions were progressively transferred to Somali institutions, UN agencies and other UN bodies.
The closure comes as Somalia continues to face a prolonged security threat from Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has fought the federal government for nearly two decades and maintains a presence across parts of the country.
The country also faces political challenges, including disagreements between the federal government and opposition figures over constitutional changes, presidential terms and election arrangements.
The end of the UN political mission has raised concerns about the absence of an agreed replacement mechanism to help mediate political disputes, even as the UN continues its work in Somalia through other agencies and programs.