United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia


The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia was a special political mission of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Its primary purpose was to assist the Federal Government of Somalia in achieving peace, stability and reconciliation. It worked closely with and supported the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.
UNSOM replaced the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, which was in existence from 15 April 1995 until the expiration of its Security Council mandate on 2 June 2013.
On 30 October 2024, the United Nations Security Council voted 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 operations on 1 November 2024.
On 31 October 2024, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia concluded its operations after United Nations Security Council resolution 2753 established the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia as its successor. 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.
The Mission had its headquarters in Mogadishu and also had offices in Kismaayo, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa and Belet Weyne.

Mandate

UNSOM was created by means of United Nations Security Council resolution 2102, adopted unanimously on 3 June 2013. Under that resolution, it was charged with:
  • 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, the Mission's mandate was renewed by successive Security Council resolutions until 31 October 2024.

Structure

The Mission comprises the following groups and sections:
  • Political Affairs and Mediation Group
  • Integrated Electoral Support Group
  • Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group
  • *Police Section
  • *Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Section
  • *Defence Sector Reform Section
  • *Joint Justice and Corrections Service
  • *Integrated Security Sector Reform Section
  • *United Nations Mine Action Service
  • Human Rights and Protection Group
  • Gender Office
  • Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
  • Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group
  • Donor Coordination
  • Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability Team
  • Climate Security Team
  • Inter-Agency Youth Working Group

    Heads of Mission

The Mission was 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 was assisted by two Deputy Special Representatives.
Head of MissionNationalityAppointed
James SwanUnited States14 May 2024
Catriona LaingUnited Kingdom3 May 2023
James SwanUnited States30 May 2019
Nicholas HaysomSouth Africa12 September 2018
Michael KeatingUnited Kingdom23 November 2015
Nicholas KayUnited Kingdom29 April 2013

Contributing countries

, fourteen countries contributed a total of 647 personnel to the mission:
CountryPersonnel
Brazil