United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia[a] | |
Hawlgalka Kaalmaynta Qaramada Midoobay ee Soomaaliya (UNSOM)[2] | |
![]() | |
Predecessor | United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)[1] |
---|---|
Formation | 3 June 2013; 11 years ago (2013-06-03) |
Type | Special political mission |
Legal status | Active |
Headquarters | Mogadishu, Somalia |
Head of Mission | Catriona Laing |
Parent organization | Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs |
Staff | 362[3] |
Website | unsom.unmissions.org |
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is a special political mission of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Its primary purpose is to assist the Federal Government of Somalia in achieving peace, stability and reconciliation.[3] It works closely with and supports the work of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and, since 2022, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.[4][5]
UNSOM replaced the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), which was in existence from 15 April 1995 until the expiration of its Security Council mandate on 2 June 2013.[6][7]
The Mission has its headquarters in Mogadishu and also has offices in Kismaayo (in the state of Jubaland), Hargeisa (in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland), Garowe (Puntland), Baidoa (South West) and Belet Weyne (Hirshabelle).[4][8]
Mandate
UNSOM was created by means of United Nations Security Council resolution 2102, adopted unanimously on 3 June 2013. Under that resolution, it is charged with:[9]
- Providing good offices in support of Somalia's peace and reconciliation process
- Providing the Somali government and AMISOM with strategic policy advice on peacebuilding and statebuilding.
- Assisting the government in coordinating international donor support.
- Building the capacity of the government to promote human rights, women's empowerment and child protection, to prevent conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, to strengthen its institutions of justice, and to help ensure accountability for crimes.
- Montoring and helping to investigate and prevent human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against children and women.
Originally established for an initial period of twelve months,[9] the Mission's mandate has been renewed by succcessive Security Council resolutions and is currently valid until 31 October 2024.[4]
Structure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/12_A_training_about_human_rights_has_been_concluded_sucessfully_today_in_Mogadishu.jpg_%2814350170382%29.jpg/220px-12_A_training_about_human_rights_has_been_concluded_sucessfully_today_in_Mogadishu.jpg_%2814350170382%29.jpg)
The Mission comprises the following groups and sections:
- Political Affairs and Mediation Group (PMAG)[10]
- Integrated Electoral Support Group (IESG)[11]
- Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG)[12]
- Police Section[13]
- Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Section (DDR)[14]
- Defence Sector Reform Section (DSR)[15]
- Joint Justice and Corrections Service (JJCS)[16]
- Integrated Security Sector Reform Section (I-SSR)[17]
- United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)[18]
- Human Rights and Protection Group (HRPG)[19]
- Gender Office[20]
- Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)[21]
- Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group (SCPAG)[22]
- Donor Coordination[23]
- Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability Team (CRESTA/A)[24]
- Climate Security Team[25]
- Inter-Agency Youth Working Group[26]
Heads of Mission
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Catriona_Laing_%28cropped%29.jpg)
The Mission is led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. The Head of Mission is assisted by two Deputy Special Representatives.[27][3]
Head of Mission | Nationality | Appointed |
---|---|---|
Catriona Laing[28][27] | United Kingdom | 3 May 2023 |
James Swan[29] | United States | 30 May 2019 |
Nicholas Haysom[30] | South Africa | 12 September 2018 |
Michael Keating[31] | United Kingdom | 23 November 2015 |
Nicholas Kay[32][33] | United Kingdom | 29 April 2013 |
Contributing countries
As of 30 November 2023[update], fourteen countries contribute a total of 647 personnel (military and civilian) to the mission:[34]
Country | Personnel |
---|---|
![]() | 2 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 2 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 2 |
![]() | 2 |
![]() | 1 |
![]() | 627 |
![]() | 2 |
![]() | 3 |
See also
- African Union Mission in Somalia
- United Nations Operation in Somalia I (UNOSOM I)
- United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II)
References
- ^ French: Mission d'assistance des Nations Unies en Somalie (MANUSOM); Spanish: Misión de Asistencia de las Naciones Unidas en Somalia (UNSOM); Russian: Миссия Организации Объединенных Наций по содействию Сомали (МООНСОМ); Chinese: 联合国索马里援助团 (联索援助团); Arabic: بعثة الأمم المتحدة لتقديم المساعدة إلى الصومال.[1]
- ^ a b "United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: UNTERM. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ UNSOM Somali language site
- ^ a b c "UNSOM (UN Assistance Mission in Somalia)". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Mandate". UNSOM. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General: On the Establishment of the African Union Transition Mission In Somalia (ATMIS)". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "United Nations Political Office for Somalia". United Nations: UNTERM. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "United Nations Political Office for Somalia". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ UNSOM offices
- ^ a b Security Council Resolution 2102
- ^ Political Affairs
- ^ Integrated Electoral Support Group
- ^ Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group
- ^ Police Section
- ^ Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Section
- ^ Defence Sector Reform Section
- ^ Joint Justice and Corrections Service
- ^ Integrated Security Sector Reform Section
- ^ United Nations Mine Action Service
- ^ Human Rights and Protection Group
- ^ Gender Office
- ^ Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
- ^ Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group
- ^ Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Group
- ^ Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability Team
- ^ Climate Security Team
- ^ Youth Empowerment
- ^ a b UNSOM: Leadership
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Catriona Laing of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia and Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints James Swan of United States Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Haysom of South Africa Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Michael Keating of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Kay of United Kingdom as Special Representative for Somalia". United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia Nicholas Kay arrived in the Horn of African nation Monday, to take up his role as the head of the newly formed United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)". United Nations: UNifeed. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Troop and police contributors". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) (Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs official site)
- United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia: Questions and Answers (United Nations Political Office for Somalia, 2 June 2013)
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