The United Nations has begun reducing its presence in Somalia, downsizing its staff and planning to sell some assets of the UNSOS support mission. The move comes at a time when funding shortages are affecting support for the African Union mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Meanwhile, the UNTMIS mission is expected to gradually transfer its responsibilities to Somali authorities and the UN country team by October 2026.
This transition is significant as it represents a major shift in the UN’s engagement in Somalia, coinciding with financial constraints affecting international support. The United States, the largest contributor to UNSOS, has announced it will end its funding by December 31, 2026. This has prompted UNSOS to issue asset disposal notices for vehicles, generators, computers and other equipment.
The UNTMIS mission, which transitioned from UNSOM in November 2024, will continue until October 31, 2026, allowing for a phased handover of responsibilities to Somali authorities. The Somali government has stated it is ready to take on greater security responsibility, with President Hassan Sheikh recently graduating over 3,000 soldiers.
Somalia Faces Change in UN Presence
However, the UN withdrawal is not yet complete, and uncertainty remains over the future of AUSSOM and who will fund the African troops in Somalia. The UN has warned that funding cuts could impact the humanitarian situation, with 3.8 million people internally displaced within Somalia.
