Tomorrow (30 August), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for a period of nine months, until 31 May 2022. The UK, the penholder on Somalia, circulated a first draft on 13 August, and convened a read-through session on 17 August. Two rounds of virtual negotiations took place on 19 and 24 August, followed by bilateral consultations between the penholder and individual Council members. A revised draft was then placed under silence on 25 August. Silence was broken three times on 25 August, on 26 August and on Friday (27 August), before the draft was put in blue on Friday evening.
