UNSC extends Somalia mission mandate for another year

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday voted overwhelmingly to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for another year following the Secretary-General’s strategic review.

“Following the Secretary-General’s strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the Security Council today extended until 31 October 2023 the Mission’s mandate and tasks, as set out in resolutions 2158 (2014) and 2592 (2021),” the Council said on Monday.

Of the 15 UNSC members, 14 voted in favour of resolution 2657 (2022) with 1 abstention (China).

UNSOM mandate extension comes following weekend attacks in Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab terrorists that killed at least 120 people. The bombings took place when two cars ladened with explosives blew up minutes apart near the city’s busy Zobe junction targeting the Ministry of Education.

The Council members reiterated their condemnation of the terrorist attacks.

Speaking at the UNSC meeting, Somalia’s ambassador to the UN, Abukar Dahir Osman, urged the UN to “renew its commitment to the Somali people and strengthen coordination among different entities.”

He also stressed the need for UNSOM to “have a clear understanding of the (Somali) Government’s shared vision for an exit strategy” for a well-defined “transition from special political mission to the country team.”