Effective from first of January 2025, Somalia has become a non-permanent member of the UNSSC for 2025-2026 term. 

According to state media, Somalia will “…play a vital role in addressing global challenges including conflict resolution, peacekeeping and promotion of human rights”

These are the exact same challenges Somalia is struggling with at the moment. A UN mission has been present in Somalia for more than a decade. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was established on 3 June 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2102, and has been renewed 14 times since. And now even as Somalia joins the UNSC, a UN transition mission will be active in the country for almost the whole term of Somalia at the UNSC. 

According to resolution 2102 that established the UN mission in Somalia in 2013, the mission will, “….monitor, help investigate and report to the Council on, and help prevent: 

• Any abuses or violations of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law committed in Somalia, including through the deployment of human rights observers; 
• Any violations or abuses committed against children in Somalia; 
• Any violations or abuses committed against women, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflict. 

Now that the Somalia joins the UNSC, will it sit idle and listen to the UN Transition Mission provide briefings and updates on Somalia?

Somalia hosts African peacekeepers mandated by the Security Council, but might at some point- now as a member of the UNSC- be required to vote to renew the same mission or mandate a different mission. Would Somalia lobby to extend the same mission or a similar one?

And what would be the role of the UK, that has consistently kept reminding everyone that it has been- and still is- Somalia’s penholder for decades. Penholders take the lead on specific issues on the Council’s agenda. This role allows the UK to leverage its influence while reducing transparency and inclusiveness. Would Somalia sit and watch the UK take the lead on matters relating to Somalia? 

Recently there has been growing resentment in Somalia towards the UK for supposedly leaning towards Somaliland- the breakaway region seeking international recognition.