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United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia

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UNSOM
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia[a]
Hawlgalka Kaalmaynta Qaramada Midoobay ee Soomaaliya (UNSOM)[2]
PredecessorUnited Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)[1]
Formation3 June 2013; 11 years ago (2013-06-03)
Dissolved1 November 2024 (2024-11-01)
TypeSpecial political mission
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersMogadishu, Somalia
Head of Mission
James Swan[3]
Parent organization
Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Staff362[4]
Websiteunsom.unmissions.org

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is a special political mission of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Its primary purpose is to assist the Federal Government of Somalia in achieving peace, stability and reconciliation.[4] It works closely with and supports the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and, since 2022, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.[5][6]

UNSOM replaced the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), which was in existence from 15 April 1995 until the expiration of its Security Council mandate on 2 June 2013.[7][8]

On October 30, 2024, the United Nations Security Council votes 15–0 to dissolve the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and formed a new mission called the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia, which began and operated on November 1, 2024.[9][10]

On October 31, 2024, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) concluded its operations. after United Nations Security Council's resolution 2753 and established the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) as its successor.[11] The transition responds to a request from Somalia's Federal Government for a two-year handover period. By October 2026, the mission's functions are expected to fully transfer to support Somalia’s development goals.[12]

The Mission has its headquarters in Mogadishu and also has offices in Kismaayo (in the state of Jubaland), Hargeisa (in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland), Garowe (Puntland), Baidoa (South West) and Belet Weyne (Hirshabelle).[5][13]

Mandate

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UNSOM was created by means of United Nations Security Council resolution 2102, adopted unanimously on 3 June 2013. Under that resolution, it is charged with:[14]

  • Providing good offices in support of Somalia's peace and reconciliation process
  • Providing the Somali government and AMISOM with strategic policy advice on peacebuilding and statebuilding.
  • Assisting the government in coordinating international donor support.
  • Building the capacity of the government to promote human rights, women's empowerment and child protection, to prevent conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, to strengthen its institutions of justice, and to help ensure accountability for crimes.
  • Monitoring and helping to investigate and prevent human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against children and women.

Originally established for an initial period of twelve months,[14] the Mission's mandate has been renewed by successive Security Council resolutions and is currently valid until 31 October 2024.[5]

Structure

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A training session on human rights for police officers organized by UNDP, Human Rights Watch, UNSOM and AMISOM, held in Mogadishu in June 2014.

The Mission comprises the following groups and sections:

  • Political Affairs and Mediation Group (PMAG)[15]
  • Integrated Electoral Support Group (IESG)[16]
  • Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG)[17]
    • Police Section[18]
    • Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Section (DDR)[19]
    • Defence Sector Reform Section (DSR)[20]
    • Joint Justice and Corrections Service (JJCS)[21]
    • Integrated Security Sector Reform Section (I-SSR)[22]
    • United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)[23]
  • Human Rights and Protection Group (HRPG)[24]
  • Gender Office[25]
  • Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)[26]
  • Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group (SCPAG)[27]
  • Donor Coordination[28]
  • Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability Team (CRESTA/A)[29]
  • Climate Security Team[30]
  • Inter-Agency Youth Working Group[31]

Heads of Mission

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James Swan, acting Special Representative assumed since May 14, 2024

The Mission is led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. The Head of Mission is assisted by two Deputy Special Representatives.[32][4]

Head of Mission Nationality Appointed
James Swan[33] United States 14 May 2024
Catriona Laing[34][32] United Kingdom 3 May 2023
James Swan[35] United States 30 May 2019
Nicholas Haysom[36] South Africa 12 September 2018
Michael Keating[37] United Kingdom 23 November 2015
Nicholas Kay[38][39] United Kingdom 29 April 2013

Contributing countries

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As of 30 November 2023, fourteen countries contribute a total of 647 personnel (military and civilian) to the mission:[40]

Country Personnel
 Brazil 2
 Finland 1
 Germany 1
 Ghana 2
 India 1
 Indonesia 1
   Nepal 1
 Sierra Leone 1
 Sweden 2
 Thailand 2
 Turkey 1
 Uganda 627
 United Kingdom 2
 Zimbabwe 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ French: Mission d'assistance des Nations Unies en Somalie (MANUSOM); Spanish: Misión de Asistencia de las Naciones Unidas en Somalia (UNSOM); Russian: Миссия Организации Объединенных Наций по содействию Сомали (МООНСОМ); Chinese: 联合国索马里援助团 (联索援助团); Arabic: بعثة الأمم المتحدة لتقديم المساعدة إلى الصومال.[1]
  1. ^ a b "United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: UNTERM. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  2. ^ UNSOM Somali language site
  3. ^ "Somalia: UN official reports on electoral progress, ongoing security challenges | UN News". news.un.org. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "UNSOM (UN Assistance Mission in Somalia)". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Mandate". UNSOM. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General: On the Establishment of the African Union Transition Mission In Somalia (ATMIS)". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. ^ "United Nations Political Office for Somalia". United Nations: UNTERM. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  8. ^ "United Nations Political Office for Somalia". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ "UN Security Council approves transformation of Somalia mission". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  10. ^ "UNSC Adopts Resolution 2753, Transfers Somalia Mandate". Mirage News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2753 (2024), Security Council Transfers Mandate to United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". press.un.org. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  12. ^ "UNSOM". UNSOM. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  13. ^ UNSOM offices
  14. ^ a b Security Council Resolution 2102
  15. ^ Political Affairs
  16. ^ Integrated Electoral Support Group
  17. ^ Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group
  18. ^ Police Section
  19. ^ Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Section
  20. ^ Defence Sector Reform Section
  21. ^ Joint Justice and Corrections Service
  22. ^ Integrated Security Sector Reform Section
  23. ^ United Nations Mine Action Service
  24. ^ Human Rights and Protection Group
  25. ^ Gender Office
  26. ^ Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
  27. ^ Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group
  28. ^ Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group
  29. ^ Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability Team
  30. ^ Climate Security Team
  31. ^ Youth Empowerment
  32. ^ a b UNSOM: Leadership
  33. ^ "UN Chief Guterres appoints James Swan as acting special representative to Somalia". The EastAfrican. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Catriona Laing of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia and Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints James Swan of United States Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Haysom of South Africa Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Michael Keating of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Kay of United Kingdom as Special Representative for Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  39. ^ "The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia Nicholas Kay arrived in the Horn of African nation Monday, to take up his role as the head of the newly formed United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)". United Nations: UNifeed. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Troop and police contributors". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
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