UN political mission exits Somalia with election dispute unresolved

The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia concluded its operations on Saturday, ending a continuous presence that has spanned more than 30 years. The closure marks the end of successive U.N. efforts to assist the country in rebuilding its institutions after civil war. No agreed replacement body is in place to help rival Somali leaders resolve political disputes.

The government requested the mission close in 2024, and the Security Council approved a two-year handover of responsibilities to Somali institutions and other U.N. bodies. The outgoing mission advised national leaders and facilitated negotiations on political conflicts. The Somali government views the exit as a milestone in the nation’s capacity to manage its own affairs.

Opposition figures and analysts argue the timing is precarious. They point to an ongoing debate over the legal status of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and parliament. Al-Qaida-linked militants continue to fight, and drought conditions are worsening humanitarian needs across the country.

African Union troops will remain to support Somali forces in combat operations against militants. U.N. aid agencies will also stay in the country to deliver assistance. A separate U.N. office will continue providing supplies, transport, and logistical support to African Union troops and certain Somali security units.

The political dispute centers on whether Mohamud and parliament can legally remain in office. Under previous four-year terms, Mohamud’s mandate was scheduled to end on May 15, and parliament’s on April 14. Parliament passed constitutional changes extending both terms to five years. The government states these changes allow current officeholders to serve until 2027.

Opposition leaders reject the application of these changes to sitting officials, claiming their mandates have already expired. In June, clashes between opposition supporters and security forces erupted in Mogadishu ahead of a protest against the tenure extension. Residents reported heavy gunfire and fled their homes during the confrontation.

James Swan, the former U.N. secretary-general’s special representative, attempted to broker an electoral agreement through separate meetings with the government, opposition, and regional administrations. Talks backed by the mission in July ended without a resolution. Mohamed Husein Gaas, director of the RAAD Peace Research Institute in Mogadishu, warned that the mission's departure removes a key mediation channel.

“Somalia could find itself confronting a political crisis without an agreed mechanism to contain it,” Gaas told the Associated Press. He cautioned that unresolved disagreements could lead to competing claims of legitimacy and fracture security coordination. In a September letter, the opposition Somali Future Council requested an international mediation mechanism to fill the gap left by the mission's closure.

Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama offered a contrasting view at the farewell ceremony in Mogadishu on Monday. He stated that the event signifies Somalia has moved beyond the transitional period and difficult circumstances. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged the political, security, and humanitarian challenges in a statement marking the closure and called for sustained international support.

President Mohamud has invited political leaders to election talks from Nov. 14 to 18. The main opposition groups have not yet confirmed their attendance. By the time these talks begin, the U.N. political mission that helped mediate between the parties will have officially closed.