New York — The United Nations Security Council unanimously renewed the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, extending AUSSOM through Dec. 31, 2026, in a resolution adopted Tuesday that also set a timetable to wind down a separate U.N. mission.
The resolution, tabled by the United Kingdom, passed 15-0 and keeps in place international backing for Somalia’s security transition amid persistent attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab insurgency. It also decided to terminate the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), with all operations to cease by Oct. 31, 2026.
- Advertisement -
Welcoming the vote, the UK’s deputy permanent representative to the U.N., Archie Young, called AUSSOM “essential” to Somalia’s stability and security and flagged the financial strain facing both the African Union mission and the U.N. Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).
“The resolution we have adopted today is clear-eyed about the challenges posed by the underfunding of AUSSOM and the liquidity shortfall facing the U.N. Support Office in Somalia,” Young said after the vote. He added that the mandate launches a process for an informed review of U.N.-provided logistical support, signaling a closer match between resources and operational needs.
Young said future Council decisions must be grounded in a comprehensive reading of Somalia’s national context so that international assistance remains targeted and effective.
AUSSOM, which began operations on Jan. 1, 2025, replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as part of a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somali authorities. Backed by U.N. authorization, the AU-led mission supports joint operations with Somali security forces against al-Shabaab, which has fought the Somali government for more than 16 years and continues to stage frequent attacks on security personnel, officials and civilians.
Despite that mandate, AUSSOM’s funding gaps have repeatedly been cited by diplomats and regional officials as a key risk to operational momentum. Tuesday’s resolution acknowledges those constraints and seeks to tighten coordination among the African Union, the Somali government and U.N. entities, including UNSOS, which provides critical logistical and life-support services to both AU contingents and Somali units engaged in partnered operations.
The Council’s decision to set a firm end date for UNTMIS reflects a broader effort to streamline the U.N. footprint in Somalia as national institutions assume greater responsibilities. The transition comes as Mogadishu, with regional and international partners, tries to consolidate territorial gains against al-Shabaab while accelerating security-sector reforms.
By locking in AUSSOM’s mandate for another year and initiating a formal review of U.N. support, the Security Council is attempting to balance near-term security pressures with longer-term planning for Somalia’s stabilization. The resolution underscores that sustained international help—particularly predictable financing and tailored logistics—will be pivotal as Somali forces take on more of the fight.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
