In its resolution 2753 (2024), the Security Council decided UNTMIS shall begin the formal transition of its functions to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the UN Country Team (UNCT), and other stakeholders over the course of a two-year period from 1 November 2024 onwards. The Security Council expressed its intention, to terminate UNTMIS’s mandate at the end of the anticipated two-phased transition by 31 October 2026.
Introduction:
The UNTMIS Police Section is a component of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG) within the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS). Our mandate is to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) in strengthening the rule of law and establishing an effective, accountable, and constitutional policing institution. We achieve this by providing strategic policy advice, facilitating coordination of international support, promoting human rights, and capacity building and technical assistance.
UNMIS Police team on the ground (January 2025)
UNTMIS Police Section: Supporting Somali Police Development
The UNTMIS Police Section contributes to fostering a stable and secure Somalia by supporting the development of effective, accountable, and rights-respecting policing in Somalia. Guided by its updated mandate, the Section is actively engaged in strengthening institutional capacity, promoting gender-sensitive policing, and supporting the FGS/FMS implementation of the federated policing system. This support to Somalia's ongoing peacebuilding efforts focuses on building sustainable and affordable police services that serve and protect its citizens. Through targeted workshops, collaborative programs, and strategic coordination, UNTMIS Police supports the ongoing development and reform of policing in Somalia.
UNTMIS Police with the Director of the Police Division during his visit (26-28 January 2025)
Structure:
UNTMIS police advisers are deployed across Somalia and work closely with Somali security ministries, senior police, and international partners at the strategic level. The team is led by a Senior UN Police Adviser and includes a Senior UN Police Planning Officer, a UN Police Officer, and thirteen Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from various UN member states. This diverse composition underscores our commitment to international collaboration in supporting Somali police development and reform. Currently, eight seconded police officers from seven member states – Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Sweden, and Zimbabwe – are deployed with UNTMIS Police.
UNTMIS Police with the Director of the Police Division during his visit (26-28 January 2025)
Key Partners:
• Somali Police (FGS/FMS)
• Ministries of Internal Security (FGS/FMS)
• Office of National Security (ONS)
• UN Country Team
• EUCAP
• AUSSOM
• UNSOS
• Donors/Partners (bilateral/multilateral)
UNTMIS Police Adviser in Baidoa after the one-day workshop on CAAC for SWS police (Feb 2025)
Our focus areas:
Under the new mandate, the UNTMIS Police Section provides strategic advice and coordination support to strengthen Somalia’s federated policing system. It focuses on institutional capacity-building through UN programming, aligning efforts with the National Security Architecture (NSArch) and the Somali Security Sector Development Plan (SSDP). Key priorities include legal framework development, gender-sensitive policing, expanding police presence in newly recovered areas, fostering community policing, and increasing women's representation in policing in Somalia.
a.Supporting the Federated Policing System in Somalia: UNTMIS Police supports the implementation of the 2016 New Policing Model agreement, which was reinforced in the revision of the National Security Architecture (NSArch) in 2023. The NSArch provides the framework for the federated policing system in Somalia.
b.Supporting Legal Framework Development: UNTMIS Police supports the development of a federated police legal framework. We continue to advise Somali counterparts throughout the drafting of laws, policies, and procedures.
c.Institutional Capacity Building: UNTMIS Police conducts targeted workshops to strengthen federated policing in Somalia. UNTMIS Police supports human rights-compliant policing in Somalia, emphasizing the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy to regulate the provision of UN support to non-UN security forces, gender-responsive practices, and Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) awareness at both strategic and operational levels.
d.Supporting Implementation of UN Joint Programs: UNTMIS Police supports the implementation of the UN joint programs in Somalia, including the Joint Police Program Phase II and the Joint Rule of Law Program through collaboration with UN Agencies, Funds and Programs, AUSSOM, EUCAP, and other UNTMIS sections to advance initiatives aimed at developing the Somali Police.
e.Coordination of International Support: UNTMIS Police supports the FGS/FMS Ministries of Security and with police in collaboration with partners involved in police development and reform. It also works closely with UN agencies through the Global Focal Point Arrangement, as well as with UNSOS, AUSSOM, EUCAP, and other stakeholders to provide cohesive security support.
f.Transition Focused: UNTMIS Police Phase 1 transition (Nov 2024-Oct 2025) will focus on targeted workshops and enhanced collaboration with UNDP, UNWOMEN, and other stakeholders to build police capacity in planning, community policing, and gender-responsive policing. The second phase (Nov 2025-Oct 2026) will shift to an advisory role, focusing on knowledge transfer and the final handover of responsibilities.
Newsletters and Publications:
UNTMIS Police's quarterly newsletters and periodic reports highlight its activities and achievements in supporting Somali police reform. Previous editions are included below:
Careers
Are you a passionate and experienced police officer interested in contributing to police reform in Somalia? The UN Police regularly advertise vacancies for police adviser positions. Serving police officers can find more information and current vacancies on the UN Police website:
https://police.un.org/en/vacancies
Contact Us:
We welcome your inquiries and engagement. Please feel free to contact us.
Gerard Smith
Senior UN Police Adviser
Head of the UNTMIS Police Section
Email: untmis-police@un.org