Breaking News: Somalia Wins UN Security Seat

Somalia has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a significant achievement for the war-torn nation. This marks the first time since the 1970s that Somalia, which has been embroiled in civil war for over 30 years, has held this position.

The UN Security Council plays a crucial role in determining how the organization responds to global conflicts. Analysts believe Somalia's ongoing efforts to end its internal turmoil and combat Islamist militants will influence the UN’s decisions.

The lengths countries go to for a seat at the UN top table The council consists of 10 rotating non-permanent members and five permanent members—the US, UK, France, China, and Russia. To secure a seat, which carries significant influence in world affairs, a country must gain the support of at least two-thirds of the General Assembly's voting delegations.

Somalia, along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama, was elected to serve for two years starting January next year. Somalia won the seat allocated to the East Africa region unopposed, receiving 179 votes in a secret ballot in the 193-member General Assembly.

After the vote, Somalia's Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Fiqi, who led a delegation to New York, stated that Somalia was ready to assume "its position on the global stage" and "promote peace and security in the world."

The ousting of Mohamed Siad Barre as Somalia’s president in 1991 triggered a decades-long civil war among rival clan warlords. Over the years, the UN and African Union (AU) have been instrumental in helping re-establish a central authority.

Somalia continues to battle the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which controls significant portions of the country. The group, allied with al-Qaeda, seeks to overthrow the central government and impose its interpretation of Islamic law.

In recent months, the Somali government has intensified its campaign against al-Shabab as foreign troops withdraw, transferring security responsibilities to the Somali army.

James Swan, the UN Secretary General’s acting special representative for Somalia, noted that the country's experiences give it a unique perspective to contribute to the Security Council's deliberations on international peace and security. “Somalia has come a long way over the past three decades on its path to peace, prosperity, and security," Swan said.

Security expert Samira Gaid remarked on the UK-based Warpod podcast that Somalia is "no longer the poster child for problems in the Horn of Africa."

The UN Security Council has significant responsibilities, including authorizing peacekeeping operations and imposing international sanctions. Last December, it lifted a longstanding arms embargo on Somalia. Non-permanent members of the council are regionally allocated and, unlike the five permanent members, do not have veto power.

Currently, three non-permanent African states are on the council—Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique—whom Somalia will replace. The AU has been advocating for the continent to have two permanent representatives and an additional two non-permanent seats on the council.