Hassan Sheikh: Somalia Wants the U.N. to Stay, But on New Terms

NEW YORK — The term-ended Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that Somalia does not want the United Nations to leave the country, but called for a new framework for cooperation that would give Somali government institutions a leading role in implementing aid and development programs.

Speaking at the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Hassan Sheikh said international assistance should strengthen Somalia’s national institutions rather than create parallel systems operating outside government structures.

“We are not asking the United Nations to leave,” Hassan Sheikh said, while calling for cooperation based on accountability, strategic planning and measurable results.

The president criticized the way some international aid programs are currently managed, saying a significant portion of assistance and development projects are implemented outside the government’s national budget and existing institutions.

He said the arrangement makes it more difficult for the government to plan, coordinate resources and assess the impact of projects, while also slowing efforts to build effective state institutions.

“Much of the aid and development work is implemented through arrangements outside the national budget,” he said, arguing that Somalia needs greater ownership of programs being carried out in the country.

Hassan Sheikh said Somalia has hosted a U.N. presence for more than three decades and continues to value international support. But he said the nature of that partnership needs to evolve as Somali institutions take on greater responsibility.

The president’s comments come as Somalia seeks to strengthen its state institutions and assume greater responsibility for national development and security following years of heavy reliance on international assistance.

He said international partners should work more closely with Somali authorities to ensure that resources are aligned with national priorities and that projects produce measurable outcomes.

According to Hassan Sheikh, giving national institutions a greater role would also improve coordination between government agencies and international partners, while helping the government better track how resources are being used.

He emphasized that Somalia’s position was not a call for an end to U.N. involvement, but for a partnership in which Somali institutions play a more central role.

The remarks reflect a broader push by the Somali government for greater national ownership of development programs and international assistance as the country seeks to strengthen its institutions and reduce dependence on externally managed systems.

GAROWE ONLINE