AUSSOM Troop Contributors Push for Two-Year UN Extension of Somalia Mission
Defence ministers from countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) agreed on Thursday to seek a United Nations extension of the mission by up to two years, according to Shabelle Media Network. The decision came at a summit held in Kampala, Uganda, where ministers raised concerns over the future of international security support for Somalia.
AUSSOM is the latest iteration of the African Union’s long-running involvement in Somalia, having taken over from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and ultimately from the earlier AMISOM force. The mission has been central to efforts to stabilise parts of the country and to support Somali security forces in their campaign against Al-Shabaab, the insurgency that has waged war against successive federal governments for nearly two decades.
Uganda has historically been one of the largest contributors of uniformed personnel to AU missions in Somalia, and Kampala’s hosting of the meeting reflects its continued diplomatic weight on the issue. The troop-contributing countries are seeking continued UN backing as the AU mission moves through a delicate phase, with international support considered essential to sustaining both operations and financing on the ground.
As AllAfrica reported from the Kampala meeting, ministers emphasised that any drawdown or restructuring must account for the security situation inside Somalia and the readiness of Somali forces to assume full responsibility for their own defence. The extension request will now be formalised through channels linking the African Union and the United Nations Security Council, which has historically authorised logistical and financial support for AU-led operations in the Horn of Africa.
The outcome of the Kampala discussions is expected to shape negotiations in New York over the coming months, as international partners weigh the balance between backing the AU mission and encouraging a gradual transition to Somali-led security.
Sources
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