GENEVA The Federal Republic of Somalia and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) signed a landmark agreement in Geneva yesterday, Wednesday, to formally establish the first OHCHR office in Mogadishu, according to the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development’s Official Platform.

Somalia was represented by H.E. Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, while H.E. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed for the UN, indicating a new period of local human rights autonomy, according to the Ministry’s Official Sources.

The agreement implements UN Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/60/28), granting Somalia autonomy in managing its human rights framework while offering local technical assistance to strengthen national commitments and enhance field monitoring and evaluation effectiveness.

The establishment of the Mogadishu office represents a significant diplomatic achievement for Somalia. It functions as a technical advisory center assisting government initiatives to institutionalize human rights and align with national recovery through capacity building and protective law development.

The Somali delegation in Geneva comprised Mr. Mohamed Bashir Omar, Director General of the Ministry, and a team of specialists. This agreement follows last October’s accomplishments, notably the creation of the National Independent Human Rights Commission and the consolidation of independent institutional functions.

In a parallel development, today, Thursday, H.E. Ambassador Khadija Al-Makhzoumi participated in a high-level bilateral meeting with H.E. Eleanor Sanders, UK Human Rights Ambassador, to explore collaboration and backing for continuing structural reforms, as indicated by the Ministry’s Official Channels.

The British Ambassador, serving as “Penholder” for the Somali human rights portfolio, commended the significant progress made by establishing the OHCHR office in Mogadishu, confirming that this development demonstrates global confidence in the Federal Government’s reform agenda.

The Minister conveyed gratitude for sustained British assistance, highlighting that establishing the OHCHR office in the capital marks a transition from external supervision to local cooperation, aiding in the creation of regulatory mechanisms that protect the dignity and entitlements of Somali people.

The discussions underscored the significance of combining international aid with the national perspective. Somalia aims through these alliances to construct a rights framework founded on transparency and responsibility, fostering enduring institutional development throughout all regions without bias.

The proceedings concluded by asserting that the inauguration of the High Commissioner’s office initiates an era of stability, where the state adheres to superior international standards in safeguarding liberties, consistent with the Somali populace’s hopes for a future grounded in social equity and legal governance.

Somalia’s accomplishment in transferring the focal point of human rights decision-making to Mogadishu via the OHCHR office constitutes triumph for national determination in exercising complete autonomy. This measure transcends mere administrative formalism and represents a proclamation of the state’s sophistication in administering its essential concerns. It creates a balanced international alliance that situates human rights at the core of the nation-building journey, guaranteeing that legal pledges become practical realities that defend the honor of Somali citizens and advance their prosperity and security within an institutional framework.