Somalia's Government Requests End to UN Political Mission, Citing Self-Sufficiency and High Costs
Somalia's government has requested the UN to terminate the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) when its mandate expires in October.
The request came as a surprise to UN officials, who were not named in the report.
UNSOM, a 360-member political mission, has advised Somalia on peace-building, security reforms, and democracy for over a decade.
Somalia, which has been in continuous conflict since 1991 and is among the world's most violent and impoverished nations, has taken steps to restore services and provide security.
However, the end of the political mission is separate from the UN-mandated African Union peacekeeping mission, which is due to withdraw and hand over to the Somali state by the end of this year.
A letter from Somalia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Aimed Moa Fiji, circulated on social media on May 5, confirming the country's intention to transition from UN support for coordination with the international community.
The UN officials verified the letter's authenticity, but Somali officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The government believes it no longer requires UN assistance, as stated in the letter, due to increased assertiveness and the high annual cost of $100 million for UNSOM.
Previously, Somalia had accused UNSOM of interfering in internal affairs.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia is pushing for centralized authority through constitutional changes and reforms.
The UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOM) is attempting to find a balance between the federal government's agenda and the states' desire for autonomy.
UNSOM expects more assertive actions from the federal government regarding constitutional revisions, federalism, and elections.
In response to Somalia's request, UNSOM stated that it was a testament to their support over the past years.
Other UN offices, including humanitarian agencies, will continue to operate in Somalia.