Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – The African Union is set to officially launch its new peacekeeping initiative in Somalia — the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) — in July 2025. This mission will succeed ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia), whose mandate concluded on January 1, 2025.
AUSSOM marks the third phase of the African Union’s broader stabilization strategy for Somalia. The mission emphasizes Somali leadership and aims to support national security forces, degrade the Al-Shabaab insurgency, stabilize newly liberated areas, and ultimately transition full responsibility for national security to the Somali government by December 2029.
In preparation, the African Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2025 with countries contributing troops and police to the mission: Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. These nations will play critical roles in security operations and strategic support. The MoUs are expected to be submitted to the AU’s legal and regulatory bodies before formal ratification.
AUSSOM is authorized to deploy up to 12,000 personnel, including 680 police officers. However, this number is expected to be gradually reduced by the end of 2025 in line with the mission’s phased drawdown strategy.
Despite the strategic planning, AUSSOM is already facing a major funding shortfall. From January to June 2025, the mission required $90.4 million but received only $16.7 million — leaving a gap of $73.7 million.
A new funding mechanism is proposed to address this crisis, under UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023). Starting July 1, 2025, the system would allow UN member states to cover up to 75% of AUSSOM’s annual budget. However, implementation of this mechanism hinged on a decision that was due by May 15, 2025 — a deadline that has passed without clear resolution, leaving the mission’s financial future uncertain.
Compounding the challenge, AUSSOM is being deployed at a time of escalating violence. Al-Shabaab has launched a new wave of attacks and seized additional territory. In response, troop-contributing countries convened in Uganda in April 2025 and proposed an urgent increase of 8,000 soldiers to reinforce the mission.
As AUSSOM moves toward operational readiness, its success will depend not only on regional cooperation and military strength but also on securing the international financial support it urgently needs.