Somalia: Private Meeting
Tomorrow morning (9 April), the Security Council will convene for a private meeting on Somalia. Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) James Swan will brief on the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2025/194) on the implementation of the mandates of UNTMIS and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The report was circulated to Council members on 28 March and covers developments from 23 September 2024 to 23 March.
Additionally, Acting Head of the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam will update the Council on the implementation of the mission’s mandate, in accordance with resolution 2767 of 27 December 2024. This resolution endorsed the decision of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to replace the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) with AUSSOM and expressed the Council’s intention to invite the AU, the UN Secretariat, and relevant international stakeholders to participate in a joint meeting on AUSSOM and UNTMIS.
Tomorrow, Swan is expected to cover the latest political, economic, and security developments in Somalia. On 29 March, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced his intention to convene a “National Unity Forum”, inviting politicians, community leaders, and other key stakeholders to discuss a range of issues, including security and counter-terrorism measures, the constitutional process, federal governance, reconciliation, and political inclusivity. The call for dialogue comes at a crucial juncture for Somalia as the country faces several mounting challenges, such as the growing threat from Al-Shabaab—a terrorist group affiliated with Al-Qaida—as well as political divisions, inter-clan conflicts, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Several Somali leaders, including Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, have reportedly supported the proposed national dialogue. However, media reports indicate that Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has declined to participate, citing the state’s focus on combating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant faction in Somalia (ISIL-Somalia) militants in the region. Meanwhile, on 5 April, Mohamud chaired a high-level meeting with leaders from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and South-West states. They reportedly discussed preparations for the proposed national dialogue and agreed to enhance coordination to push Al-Shabaab out of its remaining strongholds.
Yesterday (7 April), several member states and regional and sub-regional organisations issued a joint statement welcoming Mohamud’s initiative. They urged all Somali stakeholders to “meet expeditiously to ensure a unified and effective response to the ongoing Al-Shabaab offensive as an urgent national security priority”, as well as to take “decisive action” on critical national political, constitutional, and electoral matters, which would “enable further support by partners”. Tomorrow, the briefers and several Council members are likely to reiterate some of these messages.
In his 28 March report, the Secretary-General submitted a roadmap regarding the transition of UNTMIS’ responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the UN country team, and other stakeholders, pursuant to resolution 2753 of 30 October 2024, which extended UNTMIS’ mandate until 31 October. The roadmap outlines the first phase of the transition—which began in November 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in October—in key areas specified by the resolution, including climate change, child protection, stabilisation, mine action, and youth, peace, and security. Tomorrow, several Council members are likely to underline the need to ensure a smooth and orderly transition while continuing to support Somalia’s state-building priorities. Some may stress the importance of providing adequate resources and capacity-building to Somali institutions in order to sustain the progress made, as well as ensuring that the transition reflects the evolving situation on the ground.
Another issue that speakers are expected to cover tomorrow is the complex security situation in Somalia, including the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab. The group has continued to demonstrate its ability to conduct attacks, extending its reach to Mogadishu. The Secretary-General’s report recorded a monthly average of 290 security incidents during the reporting period, the majority of which were carried out by Al-Shabaab using improvised explosive devices and “indirect fire attacks” targeting government institutions and security forces. The report also highlighted a rise in clan clashes in the Galgaduud, Mudug, Gedo, and Togdheer regions, driven primarily by land disputes, resource competition, revenge killings, and power struggles.
In February, Al-Shabaab launched a coordinated offensive in the Middle Shabelle region, aiming to reverse gains made by Somali forces in recent years and reassert its presence in government-controlled areas. On 18 March, the group targeted Mohamud’s motorcade with a bomb attack in Mogadishu. While the president was unharmed, the explosion killed four people. On 5 April, mortar fire hit residential areas close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu, wounding at least six civilians. The following day (6 April), Al-Shabaab fired multiple mortars, six of which landed in the heavily fortified Halane compound near Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport—which houses UN and AU personnel and several foreign embassies—injuring two people. Tomorrow, Council members are likely to reiterate their strong condemnation of the continued attacks by Al-Shabaab.
In response to the recent security incidents in Mogadishu, Mohamud reportedly convened an urgent meeting with police and intelligence chiefs on 6 April. Meanwhile, the Somali National Army, in coordination with AUSSOM, local clan forces, and international partners, have continued offensive operations to repel Al-Shabaab militants, degrade the group’s capabilities, and reclaim key territories. The security operations were conducted in Hirshabelle, South-West, and Galmudug states, according to the Secretary-General’s report. In Puntland’s Calmiskaad mountains, local forces supported by international partners have continued counter-terrorism operations targeting ISIL-Somalia. At tomorrow’s meeting, Council members may express support for the government’s counter-terrorism efforts, while stressing the need for more concerted actions to counter the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Somalia. (For more information, see the brief on Somalia in our April 2025 Monthly Forecast.)
Members are also expected to express concern about the country’s deteriorating humanitarian situation, driven by ongoing conflict, mass displacement, recurrent climate shocks, and disease outbreaks. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia estimates that nearly 6 million people—almost one-third of the population—will require humanitarian assistance this year. Additionally, approximately 4.6 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity between April and June, while an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of 5 are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including nearly 480,000 children facing severe malnutrition. Access to those in need remains a significant challenge due to conflict, insecurity, and bureaucratic obstacles. The Secretary-General’s report recorded 92 access incidents, of which 49% involved interference in humanitarian activities or violence against personnel, assets, and facilities.
Bam is expected to brief on AUSSOM’s support for ongoing Somali-led operations against Al-Shabaab and provide an update on the mission’s mandate implementation and transition priorities. The realignment of AU troops from ATMIS to AUSSOM is expected to be completed by 30 June, ahead of the launch of phase two of the mission, which is scheduled to begin on 1 July and will focus on securing AUSSOM positions and supporting offensive operations. At tomorrow’s meeting, some members may seek an update on how the ongoing threat from Al-Shabaab is affecting AUSSOM’s operations and transition process.
On 23 and 24 March, newly elected AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf visited Mogadishu on his first official trip to the country since assuming office in February. During his visit, Youssouf met with Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and held consultative talks with international partners, including troop and police contributing countries (T/PCCs). According to a 25 March press release, Youssouf made an “urgent appeal” to the international community to support AUSSOM, highlighting the mission’s critical funding shortfall and calling for a renewed commitment to the country’s peace and stabilisation efforts. On 26 March, the AU Commission’s Peace Support Operations Division, the FGS, and AUSSOM T/PCCs concluded a four-day technical session, finalising the mission’s “Statement of Unit Requirements,” which outlines the force composition and capability needs for AUSSOM’s military and police components. Uganda is set to host an AUSSOM TCC summit on 25 April. (For more information, see the brief on Somalia in our April 2025 Monthly Forecast.)
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding AUSSOM’s long-term financing is likely to feature in tomorrow’s discussions. The briefers are expected to reaffirm support for the recommendation made in the 26 November 2024 AU-UN joint report (which has not been released publicly) to adopt a “hybrid” implementation of the framework established by resolution 2719 of 21 December 2023—which concerned the financing of AU-led peace support operations—to ensure AUSSOM’s sustainable and predictable funding. Council members are likely to present their differing views on this issue. On 11 February, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch posted on X that resolution 2719 should not be used to finance AUSSOM, arguing that doing so “would lock the US into perpetual funding through its dues to the UN”. By contrast, Somalia and other Council members support financing AUSSOM through the 2719 framework and are likely to reaffirm support for the implementation of resolution 2767. Some members might express concern that the lack of a clear financing mechanism could jeopardise the mission, leading to a security vacuum and the loss of hard-earned security gains in Somalia.
Pursuant to resolution 2767, the Secretary-General was expected to submit an independent strategic review of UNSOS by 1 April, including recommendations for the “optimisation of UNSOS’s efficiency, performance, management and structures in the context of the authorisation of AUSSOM”. In a letter dated 3 April, however, the Secretary-General requested an extension until 30 April to finalise the review.
