Support to Somali Security Forces

In November 2013, the United Nations Security Council authorised a non-lethal logistics support package for Somalia National Army (SNA) forces in joint operations with African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces combating Al-Shabaab in Somalia. The scope was adjusted in 2018 in response to the adoption of a ‘transition plan’ for the transfer of security responsibility from ATMIS to national forces. The support package now supports up to 13,900 members of the Somali Security Forces (SSF), who are formally part of the National Security Architecture, and are actively participating in joint or coordinated operations with ATMIS, and directly support the Somalia transition plan, as authorised by UNSCR 2520 (2020).

This support package is funded by voluntary contributions to a UN Trust Fund and delivered by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).

Commodities and services currently provided in the support package are dry rations, drinking water, fuel for vehicles and equipment, operational tents, transportation; in-theatre medical evacuation, operational communications equipment and field defence stores. The level of support to the SSF is dependent on available funding.

Support under the Trust Fund is subject to United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), which seeks to ensure that any support provided to non-United Nations forces is consistent with the purposes and principles as set out in the Charter of the United Nations and with its responsibility to respect, promote and encourage respect for international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

UNMAS, with the support of UNSOS, has launched an IED threat mitigation project to enable the SSF to operate safely in the high threat IED environment.