UN Authority Figures

UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Executive Board: Somalia

Over 21,000 people in Somalia fled for their lives due to fighting and insecurity in October 2018.
Source: Norwegian Refugee Council, November 1, 2018. Photo: Somalian refugees (Wikimedia Commons)

Mission of the UN Development Programme: "UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion... UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas: Sustainable development; Democratic governance and peacebuilding; Climate and disaster resilience." (UN Development Programme website, "Overview")

Term of office: 2020-2022

Somalia's Record on "democratic governance and peacebuilding":
"Human rights issues included unlawful or arbitrary killings of civilians by security forces, clan militias, and unknown assailants; forced disappearances; torture; arbitrary and politically motivated arrest and detentions, including of journalists; criminal libel;... disruption, and diversion of humanitarian assistance; citizens' lack of ability to change their government through free and fair elections;... Impunity generally remained the norm. Government authorities took minimal steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed violations, particularly military and police officials accused of committing rape, killings, clan violence, and extortion... Government security forces and allied militias, other persons wearing uniforms, regional security forces, al-Shabaab, and unknown assailants committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Government and regional authorities executed persons without due process... The provisional constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage, but citizens could not exercise that ability."
(U.S. State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2018, Somalia)