Madar (Mogadishu) - The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) wrapped up its work on Saturday, October 31, 2026, ending three decades of UN political missions in the country, UN News reported.
"The story of the UN's political engagement in Somalia has been one of persistence, partnership and adaptation," said Raisedon Zenenga, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Somalia and officer-in-charge of the mission, adding that the closure "comes after considerable progress by Somalia", although significant challenges remain.
Somali institutions now take full responsibility for the country's recovery, with support from some 25 UN entities still working there. Somalia today has "national and federal institutions that did not exist" when UN engagement began, Zenenga said, but "continued engagement by the international community will remain important".
According to UN News, 4.8 million Somalis, out of a population of just under 20 million, need humanitarian help this year. Aid agencies are asking for 852 million dollars to reach 2.4 million people, but only about 35 percent had arrived by mid-October. The country imports more than 90 percent of its essential goods, according to OCHA.
The UN Secretary-General wants continued support to tackle the threat from Al-Shabaab and to help Somalia move to a gradual, sustainable security transition. "Today is not an end to the partnership between the United Nations and Somalia," Zenenga said. "It marks the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another."
