By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
GENEVA, 4 October 2026 — Somalia says it is ready to take on its new role in monitoring and protecting human rights following the end of the UN Independent Expert mandate.
Minister of Family and Human Rights Development Amb. Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi said the federal government will continue to strengthen national institutions and mechanisms that protect citizens’ rights.
She delivered the remarks on 3 October during an interactive dialogue at the United Nations in Geneva, held as part of the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council.
The meeting discussed the human rights situation in Somalia, progress made and the transition process, including government efforts to strengthen protection and promotion of rights.
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Al-Makhzoumi said the transition is central to Somalia’s new phase and will feature prominently in debates at the 63rd session in Geneva and at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The transition refers to a change in responsibility for monitoring human rights in Somalia. Since 1993, the Human Rights Council had appointed an Independent Expert on Somalia to document the situation and report regularly to the Council. In October 2025, the Council adopted Resolution 60/28 without a vote, ending the expert’s mandate.
The minister described Resolution 60/28 as key to the transition and to strengthening international cooperation, stressing the need to speed up the opening of an OHCHR office in Mogadishu.
She also shared progress on building human rights institutions and developing legislation, including the establishment of the National Independent Human Rights Commission.