UN closes Somalia mission, ending three decades of political engagement

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, on September 24, 2026 [Caitlin Ochs/Reuters]

The United Nations has closed its political mission in Somalia , ending more than three decades of efforts to help the country rebuild after civil war.

The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) ceased operations on Saturday after completing a two-year transition requested by the Somali government, the mission said in a statement on X.

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Its responsibilities have been gradually transferred to Somali institutions, UN agencies and the UN office supporting African Union (AU) troops under a roadmap agreed between Somalia and the UN.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Somalia’s progress but called for continued international backing amid political, security and humanitarian challenges.

The closure follows years of sometimes strained relations between Somali governments and the UN mission, whose involvement in domestic politics has repeatedly prompted accusations of interference.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government formally requested its withdrawal in 2024.

At a farewell ceremony in Mogadishu on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Ahmed Jama hailed the closure as a “day of victory”, saying Somalia was now leaving behind the “era of transition”.

The departure comes as international support for Somalia is shrinking, even as the country faces deep political divisions and continuing violence.

Opposition leaders reject the government’s position that constitutional changes allow President Mohamud and parliament to remain in office until 2027.

Relations with some regional leaders are also strained, while al-Shabab , an armed group linked to al-Qaeda, continues to fight government forces.

The UN mission previously helped rival leaders reach election agreements, but no replacement for its mediation role has been agreed.

Mohamud has invited political opponents to talks, although major opposition groups have yet to confirm their attendance.

UN humanitarian and development agencies remain in Somalia, but their funding has been hard-hit by cuts to international aid.

In August, the UN children’s agency said 205 health and nutrition facilities had closed because of aid cuts.

AU troops also remain to support Somali forces against al-Shabab, but their operations depend heavily on a separate UN office, UNSOS, providing food, fuel, medical care and transport.

However, that vital support could end by December 2027 under a US-backed plan to close the UN office providing it, the Reuters news agency reported in September.

2026年9月24日，索马里总统哈桑·谢赫·马哈茂德在美国纽约联合国大会上发表讲话。[凯特琳·奥克斯/路透社]

联合国已关闭其在索马里的政治特派团，结束了长达三十多年的帮助该国在内战后重建的努力。

联合国索马里过渡援助团（UNTMIS）在完成索马里政府要求的为期两年的过渡后，于周六停止运作。该团在一份声明中表示。

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根据索马里和联合国达成的路线图，其职责已逐步移交给索马里机构、联合国机构和支持非洲联盟（非盟）部队的联合国办事处。

联合国秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯对索马里取得的进展表示欢迎，但呼吁国际社会继续提供支持，以应对政治、安全和人道主义挑战。

此次关闭是由于索马里政府与联合国特派团之间多年来关系时而紧张，联合国特派团介入索马里国内政治一再引发干涉指控。

哈桑·谢赫·马哈茂德总统的政府正式要求在2024年撤出。

周一在摩加迪沙举行的告别仪式上，副总理萨利赫·艾哈迈德·贾马称赞此次关闭是“胜利之日”，并表示索马里现在正在告别“过渡时代”。

索马里面临严重的政治分裂和持续不断的暴力冲突，国际社会对索马里的支持却在不断减少，而此时，索马里领导人却离开了该国。

反对派领导人拒绝接受政府的立场，即宪法修改允许总统穆罕默德和议会继续执政至 2027 年。

与一些地区领导人的关系也十分紧张，而与基地组织有关联的武装组织青年党仍在与政府军作战。

联合国特派团此前曾帮助敌对领导人达成选举协议，但尚未就其调解作用的替代方案达成一致。

穆罕默德已邀请政治对手进行会谈，但主要反对派团体尚未确认是否出席。

联合国人道主义和发展机构仍然留在索马里，但由于国际援助削减，它们的资金受到了严重打击。

8 月，联合国儿童基金会表示，由于援助削减，已有 205 家卫生和营养机构关闭。

非盟部队仍继续支持索马里部队对抗青年党，但他们的行动严重依赖于一个独立的联合国机构——联合国索马里援助团（UNSOS）——提供食物、燃料、医疗和运输。

然而，据路透社9月份报道，根据美国支持的一项计划，这项至关重要的支持可能会在2027年12月结束，该计划旨在关闭提供该支持的联合国办事处。