Somalia: Plan to Assume Security Responsibility from the African Union Mission Amid Funding Concerns
Somalia peacekeeping mission: Somali government prepares to announce a plan to transfer security responsibilities from the African Union mission to its forces, coinciding with Western warnings of possible funding cuts.
The Somali government is working on a plan to transfer national security responsibilities from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to Somali forces, in preparation for presenting it at an upcoming meeting in Kampala, according to Garowe Online, citing informed sources.
The sources added that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a series of meetings with senior security officials, including army commanders, to discuss preparations for taking over military bases currently occupied by African Union forces.
This step comes as Mogadishu faces increasing pressure to prove its ability to manage its own security file, coinciding with growing concerns about the sustainability of international support for the mission.
Western Warnings Regarding Continued Mission Funding
The same sources indicated that some Western diplomats informed the African Union and the European Union that financial support for the mission may not continue, with the possible use of the veto during upcoming discussions at the UN Security Council.
The African Union held an emergency meeting in July to discuss the mission’s future after receiving a notification from the United States regarding funding, raising concerns about a potential operational crisis.
AUSSOM Mission and Recurring Funding Challenges
The AUSSOM mission, which officially began its operations on January 1, 2025, succeeding ATMIS, plays a key role in supporting Somali forces in confronting Al-Shabaab, as part of a gradual plan to transfer security responsibilities to Somali institutions.
The mission includes troops from several African countries, including Egypt, Uganda, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, operating under a mandate from the African Union Peace and Security Council, in coordination with the Somali federal government and the United Nations.
However, the mission has faced growing challenges since its inception, related to funding shortages and the sustainability of international support, amid ongoing debates over the future of security support for Somalia.
Historical Context of African Security Presence in Somalia
Somalia has relied on African security and military missions since 2007, when the African Union deployed its first peacekeeping force to support the transitional government in confronting armed groups, foremost among them Al-Shabaab.
The country had faced security challenges before that, following the collapse of the government and security institutions in 1991, which prompted the United Nations and the United States to send missions to provide assistance.
Source: RT
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