Beledweyne - The UNSOS Service Delivery Management Pillar conducted a field visit to Beledwyene, Sector 4, to reinforce the Mission’s logistics, engineering and life support to its partners in the sectors: the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and the Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the Unites Nations System.

“The collaboration between UNSOS and AU is a strong partnership and essential to the success of our mission operations”, stated the AUSSOM Sector 4 Commander regarding its mission to support Somali National Army and Somali Security Forces for the transition of the security responsibilities in Somalia. “UNSOS supply has a critical role in achieving this mission, ensuring our forces remain well supported even in challenging conditions”, added Colonel Said Waberi Harour, from the Dijbouti National Defence Force.

During the visit, the UNSOS delegation, led by the Deputy Service Delivery Pillar, Ali Azam, and accompanied by British Captain Bradley Walbrook, engaged with the African Union peace operation mission, whose contingent in Beledweyne is 1,716 AUSSOM troop from both the Djibouti and Ethiopian National Defence Forces.

In the meeting with the AU mission, chaired by the Sector Commander, Colonel Said Waberi Harour, from Dijbouti National Defence Force, accompanied by the Deputy Sector Commander, Colonel Shumet Telelew, from the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, AUSSOM personnel expressed their gratitude to the UN Mission for its support in training, medical and engineering assistance, which enhances AUSSOM’s field operational readiness.

The decentralization of UNSOS logistics from Mogadishu to the sectors has been vital for peace operations in Beledweyne. “UNSOS supports us with timely delivery of logistical, engineering and life support. For example, fuel availability keeps our vehicles and generators operational, and consistent food rations maintain troop morale and effectiveness, as well as medical supplies and treatment to our personnel maintain our operational capacities.” Additionally, the Sector Commander highlighted UNMAS’s support in countering in Al Shabab threats, such as IEDs.

The UNSOS delegation, alongside the UNSOS Regional Administration Office (RAO), Sartaj Ali, and the Regional Engineer, Ogail Awad, based in Beledweyne, and AUSSOM representatives, visited on-going projects and facilities upgrades, reaffirming UNSOS’s commitment to delivering vital support and security to its partners, all united for a more secure and stable Somalia.

As part of the field visit to Sector 4, the delegation also met with UNSOS staff to exchange insights and improve coordination across various sections, including transport, medical, ICT, warehousing, engineering and facilities management, and welfare. The discussions focused on enhancing their living and working conditions in complex environments.

Furthermore, the delegation engaged with UN partners. Benjamin Jonah, the Head of Office for UNTMIS in Hirshabelle, informed that "UNSOS is critical to the delivery of the mandate for UNTMIS, and not only for UNTMIS but also for the rest of the wider UN Family, which includes the Agencies, Funds and Programmes, as well as AUSSOM”.

UNTMIS operates from two offices in Sector 4, supporting peace and the state-building processes in Hirshabelle. He added that  “UNSOS is the backbone of our operation, and without UNSOS, it would be difficult for us to operate and deliver our mandate in Beledweyne”.

Recognized as “the foundation and logistic support base”, UNSOS played an instrumental role during the massive Shabelle river floodings in Beledweyne in May 2020. UNSOS provided helicopters to aid in victim searches and water tankers to deliver essential water supplies very critical moments during the humanitarian crisis.

As a unique logistics support mission and strategic enabler operating in Mogadishu and across five sectors in Somalia, UNSOS remains committed to supporting peace and security in Somalia. This commitment underscores the powerful partnership between the African Union, the Federal Government of Somalia, and the United Nations.