Somalia today officially assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of January, succeeding the Republic of Slovenia.
Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday, where he will share with the media the Council’s work programme during Somalia’s presidency, after the Security Council adopts its agenda for its morning session that same day.
The UN Security Council is composed of 15 countries, each with one vote. The five permanent members with veto power are: Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The other ten countries are non-permanent members elected for two-year terms, currently: Somalia, Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Latvia, and Colombia.
The Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, which include the General Assembly, the Secretariat, the International Court of Justice, the Economic and Social Council, and the currently inactive Trusteeship Council.
Somalia’s presidency of the Security Council during January is seen as a step that demonstrates the country’s growing role on the international diplomatic stage, with an expected focus on issues of peace, security, and stability in the region and the world.