The Somali government has requested the termination of a UN political mission advising it on peace, security, and democratic reforms for more than 10 years.
This came in a letter sent by Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Faki to the UN Security Council.
Three U.N. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the 360-member U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was surprised by the request to leave when its mandate ends in October.
In the letter, Foreign Minister Faki did not give reasons for the decision, saying only that the government believes it is “now appropriate to move to the next phase of our partnership.”
“We are confident that the achievements and lessons learned during the Mission’s existence will continue to direct our efforts towards maintaining peace and prosperity,” the minister wrote.
“The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) played a crucial role, but now it has achieved the desired benefit,” an adviser to the Somali presidency said, noting that the annual cost of the mission is high at $100 million.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was established by the UN Security Council in 2013 to support Somali authorities in their transition to democracy and the rule of law, after more than 20 years of conflict between militias, extremist groups and criminal gangs.
UN calls on Libya to adopt strict policies to combat human trafficking