Leaders of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have called on the United Nations Security Council to extend UN logistical and operational support for the mission by up to two years, warning that a premature withdrawal could create a dangerous security vacuum and undermine Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab.
In a communiqué issued Friday at the conclusion of a special summit in Kampala, Uganda, the leaders urged the Security Council to authorize continued UN support for an additional 18 to 24 months.
They said the extension would allow for a gradual, coordinated, and conditions-based transition while strengthening Somalia’s security institutions and enabling Somali forces to progressively assume full responsibility for national security.
The leaders stressed that continued UN-mandated support is essential to implement agreed transition measures, reinforce the capacity of Somalia’s security institutions, and ensure an orderly transfer of security responsibilities to Somali forces.
The summit also emphasized the importance of preserving Somalia’s unity, rebuilding public confidence in state institutions, and advancing democratic governance.
Regional leaders called on Somali political stakeholders to place national interests above political divisions and identity-based politics, arguing that greater political cohesion is critical to sustaining recent security gains and long-term stability.
The communiqué praised troop-contributing countries for their sacrifices in the fight against Al-Shabaab and paid tribute to peacekeepers who have been killed or injured during operations in Somalia.
Leaders also appealed to international partners to provide additional financial assistance to address AUSSOM’s growing funding shortfall, warning that the mission’s effectiveness could be severely weakened without sustained donor support.
They urged both the Federal Government of Somalia and troop-contributing countries to intensify military operations against Al-Shabaab while encouraging traditional and emerging international partners to continue backing AUSSOM and Somalia’s security transition.
The summit agreed that its recommendations would first be submitted to the African Union Peace and Security Council for endorsement before being forwarded to the UN Security Council for consideration.
The appeal comes as AUSSOM faces mounting financial pressure following reductions in international donor funding, including the United States’ decision to end financial support for the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) after December 2026.
The mission is also grappling with funding gaps caused by lower-than-expected troop contributions and declining assistance from several key donors.
The Kampala summit brought together Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and leaders or representatives from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Egypt, alongside senior officials from the African Union, United Nations, and IGAD.
Among those in attendance were AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Abdi Ware, Acting Head of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) Raisedon Zenenga, and Acting Assistant Secretary-General and Head of UNSOS Qurat-Ul-Ain Sadozai.
The summit highlighted growing regional concern that sustained international support for AUSSOM remains essential to prevent security setbacks as Somalia continues its gradual transition toward assuming full responsibility for its national security.