UN closes Somalia mission, ending three decades of political engagement

What the report says

The United Nations has closed its political mission in Somalia, ending more than 30 years of involvement aimed at supporting the country’s recovery after civil war. According to Al Jazeera, the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia wrapped up operations on Saturday after completing a two-year handover process requested by the Somali government. Its remaining tasks have been shifted to Somali institutions, UN agencies and a separate UN office that supports African Union troops.

Somalia’s government has presented the closure as a sign of progress. At a farewell event in Mogadishu, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Ahmed Jama described it as a major milestone, while President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration had formally asked for the mission’s withdrawal in 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Somalia’s gains but also urged continued international support, noting that political, security and humanitarian problems remain.

The mission’s exit comes amid strained relations between Somali leaders and the UN, with past accusations that the mission interfered in domestic politics. It also arrives during a period of reduced foreign assistance, even as Somalia faces political divisions, opposition disputes over the president’s term, and ongoing attacks by al-Shabab. Al Jazeera reports that UN aid agencies and AU forces remain in the country, but their work depends on funding that has been squeezed by international aid cuts.