Mogadishu (KAAB TV) — The African Union is considering scaling back the Somalia Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) due to a critical funding shortfall, even as Somalia remains unprepared to fully assume responsibility for its national security.
According to a report by the International Crisis Group, the lack of financial support has already hampered the mission’s effectiveness and has sparked frustration among troop-contributing countries.
Efforts to secure international backing hit a major setback when the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution that would have covered up to 75% of AUSSOM’s expenses through the UN budget. The proposal was blocked by the United States, which voiced strong opposition to the funding plan.
Despite the stalemate, neither the African Union nor its international partners have presented viable economic alternatives beyond the limited scope of Resolution 2719.
In response to the growing urgency, AU officials are working to organize a donor conference—likely to be held in Doha or London—to rally financial commitments and avert a security vacuum that could leave Somalia vulnerable once again to extremist threats.