Somalia

Following the Secretary-General’s strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the Security Council today extended until 31 October 2023 the Mission’s mandate and tasks, as set out in resolutions 2158 (2014) and 2592 (2021), as Council members condemned the terrorist attack two days ago in Mogadishu.

(Somalia President Hassan Sheik Mohamud) said Somalia’s wait to join the community has been a delayed dream for the people and his government and urged the East African Community (EAC) Secretary-General Peter Mathuki, who is on a visit to Mogadishu, to expedite the process of admission so that his country can be the 8th member of the EAC.

Nine people were killed and 47 wounded Sunday in an attack on a hotel in Kismayo, southern Somalia, claimed by the Al-Shabaab Islamist group, the region’s security minister said. The port city is the latest to be hit following a recent resurgence of attacks by the Al-Qaeda-linked group, which has mainly targeted the capital Mogadishu and central Somalia.

At least 21 people were killed in two separate bombings in the central Hirshabelle state of Somalia, officials said.

Somalia faces famine on a scale last seen half a century ago, the United Nations has said as it set a new target of more than $2bn in funding needs.

Co-ordination and planning for ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) operations against al Shabaab is moving up a level with joint operations centres (JOCs) set up in areas of responsibility across the troubled East African country.

Security experts say Somalia's government must focus on strengthening its security system to defeat the terrorist group al-Shabab. The latest intensified military offensive against the Islamist militants sparked counter attacks  in the south and central regions of the country.

ATMIS, the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia, provided air and indirect fire support to elements of the Somali National Armed Forces in a number of exchanges with “terrorists”.

Somalia is facing a "very alarming" situation after more than four years of drought have devastated livestock many people depend upon, a top UN official said on Tuesday.

Following the end of the “contentious” electoral process in May, the political climate in Somalia is now more conducive to addressing key national priorities, UN Special Representative James Swan told the Security Council on Wednesday.