The Somali government is withdrawing its request to close the UN mission office and demanding that it change its work

The Somali government is withdrawing its request to close the UN mission office and demanding that it change its work

 The Somali federal government retracted its request to close the United Nations Assistance Mission office in Somalia in a letter it sent to the UN Security Council on May 5, and again called for changing the office’s work. These talks, which took place between Somalia and the United Nations, focused on defining the parameters of a clear and orderly transition to address the challenges of development and long-term governance in Somalia.

In a second letter to the Security Council dated May 9, 2024, the Somali Foreign Minister, Mr. Ahmed Moalim Faki, officially asked the United Nations to begin planning for the transition from a political mission to a United Nations country team focusing on development, after telephone discussions that took place between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Somali government’s correspondence with the Security Council highlighted the need for an orderly transition plan, including the formation of a joint technical team to determine the modalities and timetable for change. This approach aims to build on the successes achieved by previous United Nations operations while preparing new partnership strategies focused on sustainable development and promoting Security.

This shift comes at the right time, given global challenges such as international security, climate change, and economic development, which require collaborative solutions between the Somali government and its international partners.