Somalia looks to the future as the UN political mission closes, marking the end of three decades of United Nations political engagement in the Horn of Africa country on 31 October. Raisedon Zenenga, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, noted that the conclusion of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, or UNTMIS, comes after considerable progress in the country since the early years of international recovery efforts.
Transition of Responsibility
Since the collapse of central State institutions and the outbreak of civil war in the early 1990s, Somalia has experienced a profound transformation. Successive political missions have accompanied the nation through critical stages of peacebuilding and State-building, helping to restore governance, rebuild institutions, and foster national reconciliation. With the conclusion of UNTMIS, Somali institutions will take on full responsibility for the nation’s recovery. Mr. Zenenga stated that Somalia currently possesses national and federal institutions that did not exist when the UN’s political engagement initially began, noting advancements in State formation, political inclusion, constitutional processes, human rights frameworks, and governance structures.
Ongoing International Support
Although the political mission is ending, around 25 UN entities remain active across Somalia, providing humanitarian and development support. Agencies such as the IOM, UNICEF, FAO, UNMAS, and OCHA continue to address complex crises driven by conflict and recurrent climatic shocks like droughts and floods. This year, 4.8 million Somalis out of a population under 20 million require humanitarian help, while aid agencies seek $852 million to reach 2.4 million people. Leaders also face ongoing challenges regarding poverty, fragile economic stability, and the threat from the terror group Al-Shabaab. Mr. Zenenga emphasized that the conclusion of UNTMIS does not end the partnership between the United Nations and Somalia, but rather represents the start of a new chapter.
Source: Cosmo News Desk
