Mogadishu, Somalia – Between 2023 and 2025, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) achieved a milestone in Somalia by clearing 325 locations contaminated with explosive ordnance, marking a significant step toward restoring safety and freedom of movement for thousands of civilians.
For years, remnants of war—landmines, unexploded bombs, and improvised explosive devices—have haunted communities across Somalia, threatening lives and hindering access to schools, farms, and markets. UNMAS’ sustained operations over the past two years have changed that reality in many areas, transforming once-dangerous ground into safe spaces where children can play and farmers can work without fear.
The clearance operations, conducted in close collaboration with the Somali National Army, local authorities, and community organizations, have not only reduced the physical threat of explosives but also built public confidence in national stabilization efforts. Many of the cleared sites were along key transport corridors and agricultural zones critical to local livelihoods and humanitarian access.
Officials say the progress represents more than just numbers. It symbolizes a slow but steady return to normal life for communities that have lived under the shadow of conflict for decades.
The clearance work is part of broader efforts to strengthen Somalia’s post-conflict recovery and reconstruction. With continued support from international partners, UNMAS aims to expand its operations into newly liberated and high-risk areas, ensuring that safety and development move hand in hand.
As Somalia rebuilds, the success of UNMAS serves as a reminder that peace is not only negotiated at the table—it is also cleared, one explosive at a time, from the very soil that communities depend on to live and thrive.