New york: The Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council for January 2026, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, expressed confidence that the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) would be renewed without any issues. Osman emphasized the Security Council's ongoing support for the Secretary-General's Good Offices and its commitment to dialogue and de-escalation.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Ambassador Osman responded to a query by CNA, asserting, "I do not think there is going to be any problem," while highlighting the Council's consistent calls for dialogue, restraint, and a peaceful, negotiated settlement within the UN framework. He stressed the importance of maintaining ground stability and respecting the status quo in the buffer zone, acknowledging UNFICYP's role as stabilizing and advocating for confidence-building measures to reduce tensions.
Ambassador Osman detailed the Council's procedural approach, noting that members would carefully consider the Secretary-General's reports to determine the future course of action and how they can contribute to the continuation of the process. He reiterated the Council's objective to strengthen conditions for progress on the Cyprus issue by contributing to peaceful dialogue and creating an environment acceptable to all parties.
The statements were made during the presentation of the Security Council's Programme of Work for January 2026, during which Somalia holds the Presidency. Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third, with numerous UN-led peace talks failing to achieve a resolution. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without a conclusion.