The request for the departure of the 360-member United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) when its mandate expires in October took the mission by surprise, three UN officials told Reuters, asking not to be named. Somali officials did not respond to requests for comment. Read: Somalia law review creates heat and light"We should expect more assertive and unilateral federal government of Somalia initiatives with respect to constitutional revisions, federalism, and elections," Bryden said. In a statement to Reuters, UNSOM said Somalia's request was "a testament to the work of the mission in support of the Somali authorities these past years". Other UN offices, including humanitarian agencies, would continue to operate in Somalia, said UNSOM, which was created in 2013.
