News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

Thirty-one-year-old Ahmed (not his real name) joined Al-Shabaab because he needed an income. It was a decision, he says, he will forever regret. Ahmed was the head of a special group within Al-Shabaab that provided reinforcement to other militants when necessary. For almost 10 years, he fought what…

Thirty former Al-Shabaab combatants have graduated from the Baidoa Rehabilitation Centre in South West State of Somalia after completing an intensive rehabilitation programme. The ex-combatants, who received vocational training and psychological support, expressed confidence, saying they were ready…

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) today celebrates International Youth Day. Somalia has one of the youngest populations in the world. Seven out of 10 Somalis are younger than 30 years old. “Most Somalis are young people. They want opportunities to fulfil their potential –…

PRESS STATEMENT 20/2016 The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael Keating. welcomed the signing into law of the National Human Rights Commission bill by Somalia’s Federal President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at a ceremony today in Mogadishu. Representatives from…

The bodies formed to implement Somalia’s 2016 electoral process at the state and regional levels received an in-depth briefing on the process from the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) during three days of meetings in Mogadishu this week. The meetings brought together six State…

PRESS STATEMENT 21/2016 The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) in Somalia, Michael Keating, strongly condemned the twin explosions in the city of Gaalkacyo this morning that killed at least 12 people and injured over 25. Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the…

Uniformed personnel serving in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) were today honored for their distinguished service. The 17 uniformed personnel drawn from the military, police and corrections components of the Mission…

A veteran British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent launched a new book about Somalia at a ceremony held at the British Embassy in Mogadishu on Saturday as the Somali capital’s second annual book fair came to a close. Andrew Harding’s book entitled The Mayor of Mogadishu tells the story…

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has embarked on a countrywide series of training workshops for local journalists on the forthcoming electoral process in Somalia. The first of the two-day workshops ended in Mogadishu today. Similar trainings are scheduled to be carried out in…

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael Keating, held discussions with the top leadership of Jubbaland administration on security and socioeconomic development issues and the forthcoming electoral process during a two-day visit to Kismaayo. Mr. Keating met…

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark today described the country as being “at a good turning point” during her visit to the Somali capital. Clark spent the day in discussions with Somalia’s Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid…

A two-day training workshop for Somali journalists on election reporting ended today and participants said they felt better prepared to cover the country’s upcoming electoral process. The workshop, organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM), addressed a variety of topics…