The UN plans to conclude UNTMIS's Somalia mandate on October 31, 2026.
Why it matters: The transition moves UNTMIS's political, governance and coordination responsibilities to Somali institutions, the UN Country Team and other existing structures. It also ends the mission's dedicated political mediation role while Somalia faces security, political and humanitarian pressures.
- Resolution 2809 schedules UNTMIS's conclusion on October 31, 2026, after a two-year transition.
- The handover covers constitutional review, reconciliation, elections, human rights, rule of law, donor coordination and some security-sector support.
- The Associated Press reported that no agreed replacement had been identified for UNTMIS's direct political mediation role.
- Resolution 2809 authorizes AUSSOM at up to 11,826 personnel through December 31, 2026.
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, or UNTMIS, is scheduled to conclude its mandate on October 31, 2026, after a two-year transition. The closure applies to UNTMIS as a mission, rather than only to a facility or presence in Mogadishu.
Somalia's federal government requested the transition. Security Council Resolution 2753, adopted in 2024, created UNTMIS and established the transition. Resolution 2809, adopted in 2025, extended the mission and transition through the scheduled conclusion date.
The UN mission sequence in Somalia spans more than three decades, beginning with the UN Political Office for Somalia in 1995, followed by UNSOM in 2013 and UNTMIS in 2024. UNTMIS was created by renaming UNSOM effective November 1, 2024, as reflected in the UN transition framework.
Under the mission mandate, the handover covers governance, constitutional review, reconciliation, electoral support, human rights, rule of law, donor coordination and some security-sector support. Those functions are to move to Somali institutions and the UN Country Team, including UN agencies, funds and programmes. The UN said its resident agencies will remain active.
The United Nations Support Office in Somalia, or UNSOS, is not replacing UNTMIS's political role. It will continue providing logistical support to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, and Somali security forces.
Resolution 2809 authorizes AUSSOM at up to 11,826 personnel through December 31, 2026, with a mandate that includes support for Somali security forces and operations against al-Shabaab.
The Associated Press reported that no agreed replacement had been identified for UNTMIS's direct political mediation role. That does not establish that Somalia will have no future mediation mechanism. AP also reported continued al-Shabaab attacks, political tensions and worsening humanitarian pressures, leaving uncertainty around the country's electoral future.
By the numbers
- October 31, 2026 - scheduled conclusion of UNTMIS's mandate
- 11,826 personnel - maximum AUSSOM authorization through December 31, 2026
- 1995 - beginning of the successive UN political missions covered by the transition
Yes, but: No agreed replacement had been identified for UNTMIS's direct political mediation role, according to AP. That is different from saying no future mediation mechanism can be created.
What's next: UNTMIS is scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2026. AUSSOM's current authorization runs through December 31, 2026, while Somalia and international partners will need to manage the transfer of political and coordination functions.