MOGADISHU — The Director General of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Omar Afrah, has held talks with the Acting Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Sadozai, on strengthening cooperation in Somalia’s civil aviation sector.
The meeting focused on enhancing technical cooperation between the Ministry and the United Nations, particularly efforts to build the Ministry’s institutional capacity and improve technical expertise in civil aviation. The two sides also discussed strengthening airport safety and security, with emphasis on improving systems, operational capacity and services within Somalia’s aviation sector in line with international standards.
Particular attention was given to the ongoing transition period and the importance of coordinated planning and cooperation to ensure that Somali institutions effectively assume responsibilities related to aviation operations and technical support.
The Director General thanked the United Nations for its continued support to Somalia, stressing the importance of further strengthening cooperation in institutional capacity-building, aviation safety, airport development and the establishment of a sustainable aviation system.
AUSSOM Mission Nears Collapse Without UN Support
The urgency stems from a US diplomatic note dated July 1, informing the African Union that Washington would no longer finance the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) beyond December 2026. The US has contributed nearly $2 billion to the UN support mission in Somalia, but has grown frustrated with what it views as insufficient progress by Somali leaders in assuming responsibility for their own security.
The UNSOS budget for the financial year running from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, is $481 million. The US provides approximately 26 percent of that budget through assessed contributions. Without UNSOS, AUSSOM would lose critical logistical support, including food, water, fuel, transportation, medical services, and casualty evacuation.
The State Department has reportedly expressed frustration with what it views as insufficient progress by Somali political leaders, warning it will oppose any support for the continuation of AUSSOM beyond its current mandate. The United States would not support the UN Security Council renewal of AUSSOM if it includes UNSOS or any UN logistical or operational support.
UNSOS Asset Auction and Transparency Concerns
The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) has issued a public tender seeking qualified auctioneers to sell a wide range of UN-owned equipment and vehicles, including vehicles, generators, medical and laboratory equipment, prefabricated accommodation materials, and heavy construction machinery. The auction comes amid growing uncertainty over the future of the UN mission in Somalia, following the US decision to end critical funding for UNSOS by December 31, 2026.
According to the Expression of Interest (EOI) notice published on the UN Global Marketplace on August 6, 2026, UNSOS intends to establish a Local System Contract for the “Commercial Sale of UN Items in Somalia” for an initial three-month period, with three optional three-month extensions subject to satisfactory performance.
The US decision could force the closure of UNSOS and potentially trigger the early withdrawal of AU peacekeepers from Somalia. Acting Head of UNSOS Qurat ul Ain Sadozai has raised the prospect of the office closing on December 31, with staff being warned to prepare for every eventuality, including closure within the next five months. The US provides approximately 26 percent of the UNSOS budget through assessed contributions.
The UNSOS auction could raise significant transparency concerns among civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates who note that the tender process lacks clear public oversight mechanisms. A 2025 internal audit by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) on “property write-off and disposal in UNSOS” highlighted challenges in the disposal process, noting deficiencies in records management, incomplete filing of procurement information, and a high vacancy rate of 30 percent in the Procurement Section.
Capacity Building and Security Partnership
Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Fiqi, has previously met with Ms. Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai to reinforce cooperation in strengthening the nation’s security apparatus, with talks centred on enhancing the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Defence and UNSOS, focusing on supporting ongoing security operations, equipping the Somali National Army, and boosting the capacity of Somalia’s security institutions.
UNSOS has also facilitated aviation capacity building. The Somali Air Force officers and the National Army’s special unit, DANAB, participated in a six-week on-the-job training on aviation meteorology, facilitated by UNSOS, designed to enhance their understanding of weather phenomena and improve their ability to interpret meteorological data for better aviation operations in Somalia.
The handover of the Buurhakaba Forward Operating Base to the Somali National Army’s 60th Division in August 2026, supported by UNSOS, comes at a critical juncture as both the AU mission and the UN political presence in Somalia face imminent closure. The transfer aligns with the Somalia Transition Plan, which envisions the gradual handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces.
The UN has also transferred a fortified compound in Dhusamareb to Galmudug’s regional administration, as the organization prepares to conclude its political mission in the country. James Swan stated that due to financial constraints and the planned closure of UNTMIS in October 2026, the facility would be handed over to the Galmudug government.
The United Kingdom announced £5 million in additional funding to UNSOS in March 2024, announced by Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO, during a visit to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in Mogadishu.
Critical Note
The meeting between Director General Omar Afrah and Acting ASG Sadozai reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Somalia’s civil aviation capacity, even as the broader UN support structure faces an uncertain future. However, the imminent withdrawal of US funding for UNSOS threatens to undermine these gains. The UN Support Office provides essential logistical support that enables both the AU mission and UN operations to function in Somalia. Without a replacement funding model, the transition to Somali-led aviation services risks being disrupted, and the gains made in building national capacity could be eroded.
The UNSOS asset auction, while a routine logistical necessity, raises serious governance concerns. In a country ranked among the most corrupt in the world, the disposal of millions of dollars worth of equipment requires independent oversight to prevent abuse. The UN should publish the full list of items sold, the final sale prices, and the identity of winning bidders. The UK, which has contributed over $58 million to UNSOS since 2021, and other international donors should demand transparency and accountability in asset disposal.
The Somali government must urgently engage with international partners to find alternative funding mechanisms to sustain critical support functions. The international community should recognize that investing in Somalia’s aviation infrastructure and security transition is not just a technical matter but a strategic necessity for the country’s long-term stability and development.
