African Union council assesses Somalia security mission and funding challenges
ADDIS ABABA — The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened a special session Thursday to review the evolving situation in Somalia and assess the operations of the African Union Mission for Support and Stabilization in Somalia (AUSSOM), with a sharp focus on the mission’s funding pressures and next steps.
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Officials briefed the PSC on recent political developments in Somalia, the financial strain facing AUSSOM and potential strategies to sustain the mission as the country works to consolidate security gains and strengthen state institutions. The discussions come amid a broader push to ensure Somalia can assume full responsibility for its national security in a phased, sustainable way.
Algeria’s ambassador to the African Union and permanent representative, Mohamed Khalid, reaffirmed his country’s support for Somalia’s stability and pledged continued backing for peace efforts. As a member of the PSC, Khalid said Algeria stands ready to support the Federal Government of Somalia in counterterrorism operations and broader peacebuilding initiatives in coordination with regional and international partners.
Khalid underscored the importance of reaching consensus-based solutions to the financial challenges confronting AUSSOM, calling sustained support essential to preserve hard-won gains on the ground. He also noted the responsibility of the U.N. Security Council to ensure reliable, predictable funding for the mission.
The AU Commission presented several options for AUSSOM’s future posture, designed to help Somalia maintain stability and fortify core state functions. Those proposals will be refined in consultation with contributing countries and the AU Military Staff Committee before being submitted to the PSC for decision.
The PSC is expected to issue a communiqué in the near term detailing its conclusions and guidance on the mission’s trajectory and financing.
- Key topics addressed: Somalia’s political developments and their security implications.
- Mission sustainability: funding gaps, burden-sharing and the need for predictable resources for AUSSOM.
- Support for the Federal Government of Somalia: coordinated approaches to counterterrorism and peacebuilding.
- Transition planning: enabling Somalia to gradually assume full security responsibility.
- Next steps: AU Commission proposals to be reviewed with contributing countries and the AU Military Staff Committee before PSC consideration.
With operational and funding questions on the table, the meeting signaled the AU’s intent to keep diplomatic and security channels aligned as Somalia navigates a sensitive phase in its stabilization efforts. The emphasis on inclusive consultation — from troop-contributing countries to the AU Military Staff Committee and international partners — reflects the PSC’s attempt to balance immediate security needs with a viable path to Somali-led responsibility.
While the communiqué will formalize the council’s guidance, Thursday’s session reinforced a throughline: steady financing and coordinated political backing remain pivotal to safeguarding the mission’s mandate and ensuring gains translate into durable national security stewardship by Somalia.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
