MOGADISHU: Somalia’s federal government has officially called for the discontinuation of the C6+ international coordination framework, arguing that it no longer reflects the country’s current political and security realities.
In a letter addressed to UN Special Representative James Swan, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ali Omar, stated that the C6+, which was established after 2010 to coordinate international engagement during Somalia’s post-conflict recovery, has outlived its purpose.
“The C6+ was created during a period of intense political fragility and transition in Somalia,” Omar noted. “Today, Somalia is no longer a country in transition. It is a sovereign state with functioning constitutional institutions, a maturing democratic process, and a clear national vision for peace and development.”
The minister argued that continued reference to the C6+ “gives the misleading impression that Somalia remains under externally driven political guidance, which unjustly undermines the legitimacy and maturity of our democratic institutions.”
Somalia’s position comes amid an ongoing offensive against Al-Shabaab militants. Over the past year, Somali security forces, supported by local clan militias and African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), have reclaimed territories in central regions. However, Al-Shabaab remains a persistent threat, carrying out bombings, assassinations, and extortion campaigns, particularly in Mogadishu.
Despite the security challenges, the Somali government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, insists that international engagement must now shift to bilateral partnerships “grounded in mutual respect and shared goals.”
“The Federal Government considers the C6+ to be an obsolete structure whose original purpose and logic no longer apply,” Omar concluded.
The C6+ grouping includes key Somalia partners such as the UN, AU, EU, IGAD, US, and UK, which have supported Somalia’s state-building efforts for over a decade.
