After 30 years, the UN's political mission in Somalia closes — and Somalis hold the pen

On Saturday the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) formally ended, closing three decades of UN political missions in the country. The UN's deputy special representative Raisedon Zenenga called the story one of 'persistence, partnership and adaptation,' pointing to real gains: state formation, constitutional processes and governance structures that now let Somali institutions decide for themselves. The work is far from finished — some 25 UN agencies stay on for development and humanitarian support, from a rebuilt Balcad market where 70% of stalls went to women-led businesses to school meals in Puntland linking 1,330 local farmers to 18,700 children. But the political chapter is now, by design, Somali-led.

SDG 16 · Peace, justice and strong institutions — Mechanism: institutional program