UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES SUPPORT OFFICE IN SOMALIA - UNSOS

9 Nov 2015

UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES SUPPORT OFFICE IN SOMALIA - UNSOS

PRESS STATEMENT

Mogadishu, Somali - 9 November 2015:  Today, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2245 (2015) establishing the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, UNSOS. 

UNSOS replaces the United Nations Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia, UNSOA established in 2009, has been providing critical logistic and life support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Somali National Army (SNA), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group.  

Director of UNSOS Mr. Amadu Kamara said that the new mandate of UNSOS reflects the United Nations’ ongoing commitment to Somalia by providing enhanced support to AMISOM, UNSOM and the SNA in joint operations with AMISOM.

"A nimble and strengthened UNSOS will help make AMISOM and UNSOM more effective, which in turn will allow for further erosion of Al Shabab’s capacity, creating the space needed for political reconciliation, state formation, and extension of Government authority in the whole of Somalia, ”he said.  

UNSOS currently supports 21,126 uniformed personnel in the largest UN mandated peace support operation – AMISOM. UNSOS will also support an additional 10,900 Somali National Army personnel participating in its joint operations with AMISOM.

In the resolution establishing UNSOS, the Security Council also requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to keep it informed of possible arrangements for providing, through another entity other than UNSOS, a non-lethal support package for the Somali National Police and extension of the non-lethal support package for the SNA to Puntland forces that will be integrated into the National Army.