Somalia announces candidacy for UN security seat

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaks during a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, June 21, 2023, in Washington. The following day in New York, he urged the U.N. Security Council to lift an arms embargo on his nation.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Republic of Somalia has announced candidacy for the United Nations Security Council non-permanent seat, a move which comes two years after Kenya battled out with Djibouti, in a contest which was closely monitored.

According to the state media, Somalia is keen to battle out for the 2025/26 slot, terming the move as "critical" and "timely" for the country. The Horn of Africa nation has been battling insecurity for a long time, but a lot of progress has been made in the batting of the vice.

While visiting Djibouti and Kenya recently, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin III, said Somalia was on the "right path" in winning the Al-Shabaab war. The US has been a critical player in fighting terrorism in Somalia, equipping and training the Danab Special Forces in the process.

Presently, Somalia is involved in coordinated operations against the Al-Shabaab, a group which is fighting to topple the government. Also supportive of the course is the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], working under the African Union peacekeeping mission.

Africa is campaigning for more representation at the UNSC with a permanent seat as well as more non-permanent seats. Currently, the continent has three non-permanent seats occupied by Mozambique, Algeria and Sierra Leone.

The five permanent nations - the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France have the “right” to veto any resolution regardless of how many others are in favour of the decision. The organ makes important decisions on matters of security and should Somalia manage to win, it will be one of its historic achievements.

Last week, Somalia withdrew candidature from the Inter-Parliamentary Union in favour of Tanzania, noting that "this will help us to ask them to support our bid to join East Africa Community [EAC] and any other mission we might be interested in".

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to stabilize the country on security and economic fronts when he took over from Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as Farmajo in 2022. Throughout this time, he has been a crusader of anti-Alshabaab war in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE