Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abukar Dahir Osman. © SomaliaatUN
News Desk
Somalia is set to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in January 2026. The presidency rotates monthly among Council members and gives each member responsibility for setting agendas, presiding over meetings, and managing the body’s work.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said she met with Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, in his capacity as the incoming President of the Security Council for January 2026, adding: “We discussed the programme of work for Somalia’s Presidency of the Security Council, with a focus on rule of law, and we also discussed the Secretary-General selection process.”
Somalia’s election to the UN Security Council in 2024 marked its return to one of the organization’s most influential bodies after a 54-year absence; the country had last served on the Council in the early 1970s. Somalia is scheduled to assume its new role as chair of the Security Council on January 1, 2026.
On 6 June 2024, the United Nations General Assembly held a secret ballot in which Somalia secured its seat by winning the required two‑thirds majority. Out of the 193 member states, Somalia received 179 votes. Security Council elections are held annually in June, with five of the ten non-permanent seats up for election each year. These seats are allocated by regional groupings: Africa and Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and Other States. Candidates must win a two-thirds majority of ballots cast by member states present and voting in the General Assembly.
News Desk
Somalia is set to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in January 2026. The presidency rotates monthly among Council members and gives each member responsibility for setting agendas, presiding over meetings, and managing the body’s work.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said she met with Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, in his capacity as the incoming President of the Security Council for January 2026, adding: “We discussed the programme of work for Somalia’s Presidency of the Security Council, with a focus on rule of law, and we also discussed the Secretary-General selection process.”
Somalia’s election to the UN Security Council in 2024 marked its return to one of the organization’s most influential bodies after a 54-year absence; the country had last served on the Council in the early 1970s. Somalia is scheduled to assume its new role as chair of the Security Council on January 1, 2026.
On 6 June 2024, the United Nations General Assembly held a secret ballot in which Somalia secured its seat by winning the required two‑thirds majority. Out of the 193 member states, Somalia received 179 votes. Security Council elections are held annually in June, with five of the ten non-permanent seats up for election each year. These seats are allocated by regional groupings: Africa and Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and Other States. Candidates must win a two-thirds majority of ballots cast by member states present and voting in the General Assembly.
In the African and Asia-Pacific group, Somalia and Pakistan contested the two available seats. Pakistan received 182 votes, while Somalia earned 179. There were five abstentions in this category. In other regional groupings, Panama won the Latin America and Caribbean seat with 183 votes, and in the Western European and Other States group Denmark received 184 votes and Greece 182.
The election was largely uncontested, as most regional groups had endorsed their candidates prior to the vote, reducing the likelihood of prolonged multi-round balloting.
Somalia’s election reflects both regional backing and broader international recognition of its diplomatic engagement. Regional organizations, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), congratulated Somalia and highlighted its progress in governance and stability as factors that contributed to the successful campaign.
Somalia’s return to the Council comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen state institutions and political processes after decades of conflict. In recent years, the country has initiated key reforms, taken steps toward debt relief, and advanced security transitions in cooperation with international partners. Although a humanitarian crisis persists, progress has been hindered in recent years by political deadlocks stemming from disputed elections and constitutional changes, as well as steady territorial gains by Al-Shabaab through counter-offensive operations in southern and central Somalia. Nevertheless, the country continues to recover gradually, demonstrating incremental progress despite these challenges.
As a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Somalia has actively engaged in addressing global crises, including the war in Gaza. Somalia consistently supported ceasefire resolutions calling on Israel to halt military operations and allow humanitarian aid, even though these initiatives were frequently vetoed by the United States. On 20 December 2025, Somalia also voted in favor of a U.S.-drafted resolution. Looking ahead, Somalia’s upcoming presidency of the Council in January 2026 will provide an opportunity to shape the agenda on critical issues such as the rule of law, regional stability, and broader African and global security concerns.
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