UN political mission in Somalia concludes after decades

The two-year transition of the United Nations political mission in Somalia was completed on October 31, 2026, bringing to a close more than three decades of sustained UN political engagement in the Horn of Africa country, news.un.org reported.

With the end of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, known as UNTMIS, Somali institutions take on the full responsibility for the country’s recovery. While significant challenges remain, the closure follows considerable progress by Somalia since the early years of international efforts to support its recovery.

The Evolution of UN Political Engagement Since 1995

The conclusion of UNTMIS marks the final chapter in a continuum of political support that began with the UN Political Office for Somalia in 1995. That early office laid the groundwork for subsequent international backing during decades of severe state instability.

In 2013, the United Nations Security Council established the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia. UNSOM operated for a decade to provide integrated support to Somali-led peacebuilding, constitutional review, and electoral processes.

Under a two-year roadmap agreed between Somalia and the United Nations, UNTMIS was subsequently established in 2024 to manage the final handover. Responsibilities have now been progressively transferred to domestic institutions, UN agencies, funds, programs, and the United Nations Support Office for Somalia.

The story of the UN’s political engagement in Somalia has been one of persistence, partnership and adaptation, Raisedon Zenenga, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, stated during the mission’s closure ceremony.

Progress in State Formation and Institutional Development

Somalia has undergone a profound transformation since the early 1990s, when the collapse of central state institutions and the outbreak of civil war triggered protracted conflict and humanitarian emergencies. Successive political missions accompanied the country through critical stages of national reconciliation and institutional rebuilding.

Somalia today possesses national and federal institutions that did not exist when the UN’s political engagement began, Zenenga noted, as reported by sonna.so. Progress has been made in State formation, political inclusion, constitutional processes, human rights frameworks and the development of governance structures that enable Somali-led decision-making.

Despite these gains, the humanitarian situation remains severe. The UN’s humanitarian affairs office calls Somalia one of the world’s most complex crises, driven by a persistent feedback loop of conflict and climate shocks such as droughts and floods.

Out of a population approaching 20 million, approximately 4.8 million Somalis require humanitarian assistance. Aid agencies appealed for $852 million this year to reach 2.4 million people, but funding remains critically low.

UN Entities Continue Humanitarian Work in Somalia

Although the political mission has officially closed, the United Nations is not leaving the country. Some 25 UN entities continue their operations across Somalia to handle humanitarian and development priorities.

Recent joint initiatives highlight this ongoing operational presence. In September, the UN migration agency completed a makeover of a run-down vegetable market in Balcad, installing 56 sturdy stalls, running water, and solar lighting, with about 70 percent allocated to women-headed households, women-led businesses and small enterprises.

The country’s health ministry, working alongside UNICEF, launched national guidelines for caring for newborns, including babies who are small or sick. In Puntland, where nearly a million children remain out of school, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization supports a school meals program connecting local farmers and fisherfolk with schools serving 18,700 children.

Mine action experts from UNMAS continue to assist Somali authorities in educating students and teachers about explosive hazards.

Fragile Economy Requires International Support Against Al-Shabaab

Looking ahead, Somalia’s leaders face formidable economic hurdles. The national economy remains fragile and relies heavily on subsistence farming, livestock, pastoralism, and remittances from relatives abroad, while importing more than 90 percent of its essential goods.

The United Nations Secretary-General emphasizes that international support is still necessary to combat the terror group Al-Shabaab. Sustained backing remains crucial to facilitate a gradual, sustainable security transition.

Today is not an end to the partnership between the United Nations and Somalia, Zenenga said. It marks the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another.