International bodies in Somalia: the UN, the African Union, the World Bank and the IMF

The UN political mission, 2013 to 2026

UN missions have worked in Somalia for more than three decades. The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) supported the federal government from 2013 (UNSOM). On 30 October 2024 the Security Council adopted resolution 2753, which replaced UNSOM with a smaller UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) from 1 November 2024, for a two-year handover (UN Security Council, resolution 2753 (2024); UNTMIS).

UNTMIS closed on 31 October 2026, at the request of the federal government and under Security Council resolutions 2753 (2024) and 2809 (2025). Its tasks passed to Somali institutions and to UN agencies, funds and programmes, following a roadmap agreed between the government and the UN (Citizen Digital, 27 October 2026). Before closing, it handed over its support to justice and prisons (Dawan Africa).

UN agencies that stay

The UN Secretary-General said the UN will keep supporting Somalia through its resident agencies, funds and programmes (Citizen Digital, October 2026). The main ones, by what they do (UN Somalia):

• UNICEF: children's health, vaccines, nutrition, schools and clean water.
• WHO: health systems, disease outbreaks and the health data on this site's health numbers page.
• WFP: food aid and cash support in droughts, and school meals.
• UNFPA: mothers' health and population data; it ran the 2014 Population Estimation Survey and the 2020 health survey with the government.
• UNHCR and IOM: refugees, people displaced inside Somalia, and migrants.
• UNDP: support to parliament, courts, the electoral commission and local government.
• FAO: farming, food security data and early warning of drought, through its FSNAU and SWALIM units.
• OCHA: coordinates the humanitarian response. See Aid and humanitarian funding.

The African Union

The African Union has run missions in Somalia since 2007. Since January 2025 the mission is the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The UN Security Council renewed its mandate for another year in December 2025 (Dawan Africa, December 2025; Security Council Report, December 2025). Somalia is also a full member of the African Union, as it has been since the Organisation of African Unity was founded in 1963.

The World Bank and the IMF

• World Bank: funds Somali government programmes through grants from its International Development Association. These include the Baxnaano cash safety net, health, schooling and water (World Bank, Somalia). See Baxnaano: Somalia's safety net.
• IMF: supports a three-year programme of economic reform, the Extended Credit Facility, for 2023 to 2026. The Central Bank reports on its benchmarks every year (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). The IMF and World Bank confirmed Somalia's debt relief in December 2023. See Debt and debt relief.

Somalia's own seats

• UN Security Council: Somalia was elected a non-permanent member for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026, its first seat since 1971 to 1972, with 179 votes in the General Assembly (The EastAfrican, June 2024; SONNA). Its ambassador, Abukar Dahir Osman, held the Council presidency in January 2026 (Heritage Institute, 2026).
• East African Community: Somalia joined the EAC as its eighth member state, after signing the treaty in December 2023 (EAC, Somalia).
• Other bodies: Somalia is a member of the UN (since 1960), the Arab League (since 1974), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and IGAD.

How to use them

• Help in a crisis: UN agencies work through Somali partners. Ask the local district office or health centre which programmes run in your area.
• Data: most UN data on Somalia is free, for example at UN Somalia, WHO and UNICEF. This site's Data section brings the main series together.