United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia explained

UNSOM
Full Name:	United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia
Native Name:	Hawlgalka Kaalmaynta Qaramada Midoobay ee Soomaaliya (UNSOM)^[1]
Native Name Lang:	so
Type:	Special political mission
Predecessor:	United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)^[2]
Leader Title:	Head of Mission
Leader Name:	James Swan^[3]
Status:	Active
Staff:	362
Headquarters:	Mogadishu, Somalia
Website:	unsom.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

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

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

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]	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