The United Nations has welcomed Somalia’s progress in strengthening its national human rights institutions, after the country presented its human rights report to the UN Human Rights Council for the first time in decades.
The UN, however, has warned that Somalia’s transition must not leave a gap in civilian protection as the UN’s transitional mission prepares to end its mandate later this month.
Mahamane Cissé-Gouro, director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division at the UN Human Rights Office, told the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that Somalia had made important advances in developing nationally-led human rights mechanisms.
“These efforts have supported important progress in strengthening Somalia’s national human rights framework,” Cissé-Gouro said.
He also highlighted the UN’s technical cooperation with Somali institutions, saying it had helped establish “initial foundations for nationally led human rights protection in Somalia”.
But he warned that those gains remained fragile as the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), including its human rights component, prepares to end its mandate on 31 October.
“It is fundamental that all actors ensure that Somalia’s transition does not result in a human rights protection gap.”
Cissé-Gouro said uncertainty over the timeline for the full transfer of security responsibilities to Somali authorities raised concerns about whether recent progress in security and human rights could be sustained. He said continued political, financial and operational support from international partners would remain important during the transition.
The UN official said a Host Country Agreement signed between the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Somali government on 6 May, together with Human Rights Council Resolution 60/28, provided a “critical framework” for sustaining human rights work in the country.
Its implementation, he added, would require formal acceptance of the agreement, adequate resources and continued commitment from Somali authorities.
Lead new phase
Meanwhile, the country described the transition as a milestone in its efforts to take greater national ownership of human rights monitoring and protection.
Minister of Family and Human Rights Development Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, addressing the same the session on 1 October, said Somalia was ready to lead what she described as a new phase, fulfil its responsibilities and continue engaging openly with the council.
The minister highlighted the establishment and growing operationalisation of Somalia’s National Independent Human Rights Commission, saying its institutional capacity and public reach now needed to be strengthened further.
The commission took a major step forward in February 2026 when former minister Dr Maryan Qasim Ahmed was elected chairperson, following legislation signed into law by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in December 2025 establishing Somalia’s National Human Rights Commission.
Al-Makhzoumi also pointed to efforts to strengthen protections for women, children and families, including work towards ratifying outstanding international conventions and completing important domestic legislation.
Somalia supported 260 recommendations during the fourth cycle of its Universal Periodic Review, with the ministry expected to coordinate follow-up and implementation.
The government also called for the full operationalisation of the OHCHR office in Mogadishu and pledged continued cooperation and accountability.
For Somali authorities, the current phase marks a significant shift in the country’s relationship with international human rights mechanisms.
In October 2025, the Human Rights Council ended the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia following a request from the Somali government under its Human Rights Transition Plan.
A month earlier, Somalia’s cabinet had unanimously backed ending the mandate, arguing that national institutions were ready to assume greater responsibility for human rights monitoring and protection.
Al-Makhzoumi described the change as historic, saying that after more than three decades Somalia was now presenting its own human rights report rather than having an independent expert report on the country from outside.
Legal and institutional progress
The UN said Somalia had made progress during the reporting period in implementing both its Human Rights Transition Plan and National Transformation Plan.
It cited the adoption of the Juvenile Justice Law and the Protection of Civilian Policy, as well as Somalia’s ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The results of Somalia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review were also adopted by the Human Rights Council in September.
The UN also welcomed the establishment and growing operationalisation of the National Independent Human Rights Commission, saying further support would be needed to sustain progress in legal and institutional strengthening.
Cissé-Gouro said political and security responses must continue to place civilian protection, accountability and civic space at their centre.
“Political and security responses must place civilian protection, accountability and civic space at the centre.”
The UN said attacks by the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, counter-terrorism operations and armed confrontations continued to cause human rights violations and abuses, including civilian harm and displacement.
It cited an escalation in Baidoa in March 2026 that reportedly displaced approximately 8,461 households, most of them women and children, while also disrupting services and livelihoods.
The UN further warned that the absence of a clear and agreed political roadmap for upcoming elections continued to increase protection risks.
The UN has called for continued international support for Somalia’s justice, accountability and protection institutions, as well as adequate resources and independence for the National Independent Human Rights Commission.
