The Republic of Somalia has officially assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council, effective today, leading the council’s work throughout the month of January. This marks a significant moment for the nation on the global stage.
Somalia will preside over both regular and emergency sessions of the Security Council, including those dedicated to discussing international peace and security issues. This role is in accordance with Article 18 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, which stipulates that member states assume the presidency on a rotating basis according to the English alphabetical order of their names.
This assumption of the presidency represents a notable diplomatic milestone, reflecting Somalia’s enhanced presence on the international scene and its increased participation in decision-making mechanisms within the United Nations system. This comes after years of political and security challenges that have impacted its international standing.
The presidency offers an important opportunity to highlight Somalia’s commitment to supporting international peace and security, and its readiness to play a constructive leadership role within international forums. The Security Council comprises 15 member states, each with one vote. Five are permanent members with veto power: Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The Council also includes 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, based on an approved geographical distribution. These include Somalia, Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Latvia, and Colombia.
This current presidency is Somalia’s first in over 50 years, indicating the progress the country has made in terms of political stability and strengthening its international presence. Recently, the Council held an emergency session to discuss Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somalia’s representative to the UN called for condemnation and rejection of any attempts to undermine Somalia’s unity.
The representative stated that Somalia “categorically rejects any unilateral recognition” of the breakaway region, considering the Israeli move a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, international law, and a threat to regional and international peace and security, destabilizing the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. He called on Security Council members to “firmly reject any action or declaration that detracts from Somalia’s unity or affects its territory.”