The United Nations Security Council gathered, together with 4 observer states (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Türkiye), to discuss the situation in Somalia. The proximate cause of the meeting is the escalating dispute between the a federal state of Somalia (Jubaland) and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), however the country is facing multiple crises: the federal state of Puntland declared independence earlier in 2024, and the federal state of Somaliland has been de facto independent since 1991. Fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization has also been ongoing for decades, with the involvement of multiple United Nations and African Union led peacekeeping missions.
Regional tensions ensured a heated start to the debate already during the opening speeches, as the delegations of Somalia and Kenya clashed in a battle of words. Ethiopia joined the discussion on the side of Kenya, with Djibouti offering more moderate criticism of Somalia. Fortunately for them, the delegation of Somalia found powerful allies in Türkiye and the Russian Federation with both of them offering military assistance to the FGS. European nations (Denmark, France and the United Kingdom) urged for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts and a de-escalation of tensions both on the ground and between the delegations. They also offered their support via further UN missions. In the final moments of the session there seemed to be a hope for constructive discussion between Somalia and Kenya next week.
Three moderated caucuses provided the skeleton of the debate, on the topics of terrorism in Somalia, port issues in Somalia and in neighbouring countries, and the scope of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) respectively.