UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council unanimously renewed the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, extending operations through December 31, 2026, in a vote on Tuesday that underscored broad international backing for Somalia’s security transition.
The UK-drafted resolution passed 15-0 and also set an end date for the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), with all UNTMIS operations to conclude by October 31, 2026. Diplomats framed the package as a balance of continued support against al-Shabaab with a clearer timetable for the next stage of the UN’s role in the country.
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“The resolution we have adopted today is clear-eyed about the challenges posed by the underfunding of AUSSOM and the liquidity shortfall facing the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS),” said Archie Young, the United Kingdom’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, welcoming the Council’s decision. He added that the mandate “establishes a process to enable an informed review of the logistical support provided by the United Nations.”
Young said ongoing Security Council decision-making must be guided by “a comprehensive understanding of Somalia’s national context” to ensure international support remains targeted and effective. The UK has been a lead penholder on Somalia files at the Council, and Tuesday’s renewal signals continuity in support even as financial pressures weigh on the mission and its enabling structures.
AUSSOM began operations on January 1, 2025, replacing the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as part of a planned shift in Somalia’s security architecture. The AU-led mission supports joint operations with Somali security forces against al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked group that has waged an insurgency for more than 16 years and continues to stage frequent attacks targeting security forces, officials and civilians.
The Council’s acknowledgment of funding constraints for AUSSOM and liquidity concerns at UNSOS reflects a persistent gap between authorized mandates and available resources. While the resolution does not detail new financing arrangements, the promised review of UN logistical support is intended to align assistance with on-the-ground needs and fiscal realities, diplomats said.
By fixing an end date for UNTMIS operations, the Security Council also set parameters for the next phase of the UN’s footprint in Somalia. The transition plan envisions Somali institutions and forces gradually assuming more responsibility as international missions recalibrate their roles, with the AU mission providing a stabilizing bridge. Officials argue that predictable timelines, paired with flexible support, can help avoid security vacuums that al-Shabaab could exploit.
Tuesday’s vote maintains the international community’s core lines of effort in Somalia: backing Somali-led security operations, improving stability in liberated areas and calibrating external support to match the ebb and flow of local conditions. The Council’s focus on targeted, informed assistance signals that future decisions will likely hinge on measurable progress and sustained coordination among Somalia, the African Union and the United Nations.
No immediate changes to force configuration were announced. The emphasis on review, resourcing and timelines suggests the coming months will be spent translating the renewed mandate into practical support on the ground, even as Somali forces and AUSSOM continue pressure on al-Shabaab and work to consolidate areas cleared of insurgent control.
With the mandate now extended and UNTMIS’s end date set, attention turns to execution: securing adequate funding for AUSSOM, stabilizing UNSOS finances, and ensuring the mission’s logistical backbone remains strong enough to support Somali-led operations through 2026.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
