Mogadishu: The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has described the launch of Somalia’s National Counter-IED Strategy as a historic step that consolidates years of technical work and collaboration between Somali institutions and international partners.

Launched yesterday in Mogadishu, the strategy provides Somalia with its first nationally owned and unified framework to tackle the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the primary weapon of choice of Al-Shabaab and one of the greatest obstacles to peace and stability in the country.

The Chief of the UNMAS Programme in Somalia, Fran O’Grady, said the strategy represented a significant achievement for Somalia and for the UN’s mine action programme.

“This is a major milestone for UNMAS. Over the years, we have worked hand-in-hand with Somali authorities and partners to assess the scale of the IED threat, build national expertise, and test practical solutions. The adoption of this strategy demonstrates how far Somalia has come in taking ownership of this challenge,” Mr. O’Grady said.

UNMAS a component of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), played a central role in the development of the Somali-led strategy, through the provision of technical advisory support and coordination.

The launch ceremony, organised by the Central Monitoring Department (CMD), brought together Somali leaders and international partners. Among those present were the National Security Advisor, Awes Hagi Yusuf Ahmed; the Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi; the Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail; the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan; and the Officer-in-Charge of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and Director of Mission Support, Ms. Qurat-Ul-Ain Sadozai. Representatives of the African Union, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) to Somalia, Ambassador Mouktar Osman Karie; Members of the Diplomatic corps , the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other partners also attended.

Mr. O’Grady reaffirmed UNMAS commitment under UNSOS, in supporting the implementation of the Somali-led strategy.

“Our focus now is on implementation. UNMAS will continue to provide technical expertise, training, and operational support so that this strategy delivers tangible protection for Somali communities and security forces,” said Mr. O’Grady said.

In his remarks, Mr. Swan hailed the unified approach of the various ministries in supporting the development and implementation of the strategy.

“This [National Counter-IED] Strategy is the product of Somali leadership, developed with determination and foresight. It builds on the Baseline Assessment launched in February 2023, which provided the foundation for this nationally owned framework to address one of the most persistent threats to Somalia’s security and stability,” said the top UN official.

“The United Nations remains committed to working alongside you to help translate this Strategy into lasting results. The challenge now lies in sustained implementation. With continued national resolve, and with coordinated and focused support from international partners, this Strategy can strengthen Somalia’s capacity to mitigate the threat of IED, protect the Somali people, and reinforce peace and security,”

Senior FGS officials at the launch noted the significance of the strategy and outlined a series of measures to be put in place to support the plan’s effective implementation.

“This is a historic milestone for our country-never before have we had a unified, nationally owned framework to address the IED threat,” said the National Security Advisor.

 “This strategy represents a decisive shift from reactive measures to a proactive, intelligence-led approach anchored in national ownership. It integrates intelligence-led operations, precursor control, capacity building, legal reform, and civilian engagement into one coherent framework. It also embeds continuous technological and tactical reassessment, establishment of a national electronic tracking system for precursor materials and creates a fast- tracking mechanism to update laws as threats evolve.”

UNMAS, has played a central role in Somalia’s counter-IED efforts. From conducting the Baseline Assessment in 2023 to supporting the Somali National Army and police with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training, clearance operations, and development of national systems to control explosive precursors, UNMAS has provided the technical foundation on which this national strategy was built.

By aligning existing initiatives within a single national framework, the new strategy provides a platform to scale up these efforts and embed them firmly within Somalia’s security sector reform.