UN mission in Somalia closes after 30 years
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) ceased operations on Saturday, ending a long UN presence.
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) officially closed on Saturday, concluding over three decades of UN operations in the nation at the Somali government's request. This closure finalizes a two-year transition period mandated by Security Council resolutions 2753 (2024) and 2809 (2025). UNTMIS's functions have now been transferred to Somali institutions and various UN agencies, funds, and programmes.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the UN commends the Somali people's determination and acknowledges remaining political, security, humanitarian, and development challenges. The UN will continue its work in Somalia through resident agencies, funds, and programmes, collaborating with Somali authorities, the African Union, and international partners. Raisedon Zenenga, the mission’s officer-in-charge, described the closure as the start of a new partnership chapter.
A farewell ceremony took place in Mogadishu on October 26, attended by Zenenga and Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, who called the closure a "day of victory." UN missions in Somalia date back to 1992, with UNTMIS succeeding UNSOM, which began in June 2013. The mission's closure occurs amidst a sharp decline in funding for Somalia.
Why it mattersSomali institutions are taking over functions previously handled by the UN mission, marking a shift in governance and international support.