Somalia's government has requested the termination of a U.N. political mission that has advised it on peace-building, security reforms and democracy for over a decade, according to a letter the foreign minister wrote to the Security Council.

Somalia asked the United Nations’ political mission in the country to cease operations by October, even as the East African nation faces a brutal, long-running jihadist insurgency.

Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi requests termination of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) mandate.

Fiqi said it was now appropriate for the country to transition to the next phase of its partnership. He acknowledged that the dedication and hard work or the mission has played a crucial role in promoting peace,