On a noteworthy Wednesday, the UN Security Council decided to kick off a two-year plan for phasing out its political mission in Somalia, a task that’s been rolling for a decade-plus in East Africa.
Back in 2013, the Security Council launched UNSOM to aid Somali leaders in steering toward democracy after over 20 years locked in battles with militias and chaotic elements.
Adroitly weaving through Somalia’s endemic chaos, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud aims to lead the nation toward a brighter, stable tomorrow.
This May, his administration initially called for the global community to cease its mission’s role set to wrap up by October. Later, though, they nudged for a gentler two-year glide into transition.
The Security Council embraced this shift towards transition via a unanimous resolution Wednesday, plotting to wind down UNSOM by October 31, 2026.
Let’s give a warm welcome to the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, affectionately dubbed UNTMIS now.
During the transition’s first lap, the mission will zero in on staging free elections and safeguarding human rights. By the year’s end, some tasks will pass onto local Somali authorities.
UN deployments need a seal of approval from the host, and lately, in Africa, the UN’s been hitting some sour notes in that department.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
