IMPACT

In Somalia, UNMAS ensures that people are safer and more secure due to the increased ability of Somali national authorities and security services to reduce the threat posed by explosive ordnance (EO), including improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Since 2009, UNMAS Somalia has supported the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), now the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), by delivering tailored training in explosive-threat mitigation and carrying out preand post-deployment briefings. From January 2022 to August 2024, UNMAS Somalia has supported training over 28,000 troops and facilitated the movement of over 1,600 ATMIS convoys, especially along main supply routes. In addition, UNMAS Somalia deploys explosive detection dog teams to enhance the safety and security of strategic UN and Government premises. To support stabilisation efforts to mitigate the threat posed to civilian communities by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and legacy landmines, UNMAS Somalia has identified and cleared 400 locations contaminated by explosive ordnance. Moreover, UNMAS Somalia carried out more than 1,300 village and 800 road assessments/reassessments along main supply routes supporting ATMIS operations. UNMAS Somalia uses Risk Education Talking Devices, an innovative solution to reach at-risk communities in remote locations and marginalised groups. More than 135,000 people received explosive ordnance risk education, with 71 percent of them being children, a group that represents 80 percent of all victims of ERW accidents.

UNMAS Somalia also supports explosive threat capacity development of Somali Security Forces (SSF) through training, equipping and providing advisory support. From 2021 to date, UNMAS Somalia has trained and equipped 46 Somali National Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams and trained trainers through Training of Trainers (ToT) courses to ensure sustainability of capacity development efforts. UNMAS also trained the Somali Police Force through the Voluntary Trust Fund from the Government of Japan which resulted in 21 trained and equipped SPF EOD teams.

ABOUT

Over the past years, IEDs have been the weapon of choice of armed groups used against SSF and ATMIS. However, while SSF and ATMIS remain the most frequently targeted by IEDs, decades of armed conflict left behind a legacy of explosive ordnance, including landmines, explosive remnants of war, and a proliferation of small arms and light weapons. All pose a significant risk to local populations and negatively impact peacebuilding and state-building activities.

Mandated by UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 2705 (2023) and UNSCR 2748 (2024), UNMAS Somalia is an integrated component of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), providing IED threat mitigation initiatives critical to the successful transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the SSF.

UNMAS Somalia provides policy and technical advice to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States on explosive ordnance threat reduction, weapons and ammunition, and obligations SOMALIA under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention according to the UNSOM mandate. UNMAS Somalia also delivers operational explosive ordnance threat mitigation support to ATMIS and the SSF under the UNSOS mandate, and enhances the freedom of movement and resilience of ATMIS and the SSF, the safety and security of UN personnel and assets, the civilian population, and of critical infrastructures such as airports and major routes.

ACTIVITIES

Support to the Safety and Security of ATMIS and Mission Personnel

Aligned with the Action for Peacekeeping priorities, UNMAS Somalia contributes to mitigating the IED threat by enhancing a sustainable explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and IED threat mitigation capacity within ATMIS. UNMAS Somalia provides explosive threat mitigation support to ATMIS Troop Contributing Countries through pre-deployment and in-country training courses, mentoring, advisory services and the provision of specialised equipment to enable force protection and mobility.

Somalia Security Forces Capacity Building

UNMAS Somalia enhances national capacities through training, mentoring, and the provision of equipment to the SSF, including the Somali Police Force and the Somali National Army. UNMAS Somalia enables EOD and IED threat mitigation in line with the Somalia Transition Plan, which calls for the gradual transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the SSF.

National Mine Action

In coordination with the Somali Explosive Management Authority, UNMAS Somalia contributes to community protection in contaminated areas by conducting humanitarian mine action (HMA) activities such as survey, clearance, and risk education, thereby restoring access to land and enabling the resumption of livelihoods, employment and increased humanitarian access. UNMAS Somalia also supports the capacity development of national mine action institutions, enabling them to oversee and regulate the intervention of HMA stakeholders in efforts to address the impact of explosive hazards.

Management and Storage of Weapons and Ammunition

UNMAS Somalia also advises the FGS in managing weapons and ammunition in line with Sanctions obligations under the partial lifting of the arms embargo. UNMAS Somalia supports efforts to ensure the effective management and storage of weapons and ammunition to reduce the risk of unplanned explosions and the proliferation and diversion of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition.

FUNDING

UNMAS Somalia is funded by UNSOM, UNSOS and through bilateral contributions from the Government of Japan. UNMAS Somalia is seeking additional resources to enhance and sustain the Somali security institutions' national explosive threat mitigation capabilities.

Data as of September 2024