The African Union (AU) has convened an emergency meeting to discuss the future of its peace support mission in Somalia following the United States’ decision to end key financial support for the operation.
The move comes after Washington announced it would stop funding the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which provides critical logistical support to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
AUSSOM, which comprises about 12,000 troops, has been working alongside Somalia’s armed forces in the fight against the Al-Shabaab insurgent group.
According to reports, the US decision will take effect at the end of the year and will also include opposition to any future UN logistical support for the mission at the United Nations Security Council.
The United States said the decision followed concerns that the Somali government had failed to make sufficient progress in combating Al-Shabaab, strengthen its own security institutions, or implement meaningful security sector reforms.
Since 2007, Washington has contributed billions of dollars in support for security operations, humanitarian assistance and development efforts in Somalia, including funding for African Union troops deployed in the country.
The funding withdrawal has raised concerns about the future of AUSSOM, with fears that the mission could struggle to continue without the logistical backing provided through the UN support system.
Neither the African Union nor the Somali government immediately issued an official response to the development.
Somalia continues to face both security and political challenges. The country has battled the Al-Shabaab insurgency for nearly two decades, with the militant group still maintaining control over parts of central and southern Somalia.
The country is also experiencing political tensions following constitutional changes that extended President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s tenure, a move that has been rejected by opposition groups and some regional administrations, leading to clashes in several areas, including Mogadishu.
Security analysts have warned that ongoing political divisions could weaken efforts against Al-Shabaab and create opportunities for the insurgent group to expand its influence if international support continues to decline.
