Mogadishu (KAAB TV) — The United Nations is urgently appealing for $41.6 million in additional funding to support the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as members of the UN Security Council held closed consultations on Monday to address financial shortfalls threatening the mission’s launch.
The closed-door meeting, requested by Somalia and the United Kingdom, focused on bridging the critical funding gap for AUSSOM, which is set to replace the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on January 1, 2025. AUSSOM’s initial annual budget was projected at $190.2 million. However, recent decisions—including maintaining current troop stipends and adjusting salaries to a proposed $828 per month—have revised the budget downward to $166.5 million.
Under UN Security Council Resolution 2719, adopted in 2023, the UN will cover up to 75% of AUSSOM’s budget through assessed contributions. The remaining 25%—approximately $41.6 million—is expected to come from the African Union and international partners.
To date, only $14.5 million of this amount has been secured: $10 million from the African Union Peace Fund, and $4.5 million from Japan and South Korea. This leaves a shortfall of $27 million, raising concerns that delays in funding could jeopardize AUSSOM’s readiness and hinder Somalia’s stabilization efforts.
“The funding gap is a major concern,” said a UN official familiar with the negotiations. “Without timely support, the operation risks losing ground at a time when the security environment is highly volatile.”
Resolution 2767, adopted in December 2024, formally endorsed the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM and authorized AU member states to take “all necessary measures” to support the mission for an initial 12-month period. However, full integration into the UN’s assessed contributions system remains contingent on a further Security Council decision, expected on May 15.
To make the co-funding model viable, the UN conducted an Independent Strategic Review (ISR) of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). Led by experts Maman Sidikou and Neil Cole, the review identified $61.6 million in potential savings. Subsequent negotiations between the UN and AU produced an additional $63.3 million in cuts—bringing the total planned reductions to $124.9 million.
These reductions came with significant trade-offs, including limited military reimbursements, cuts to aviation support, the exclusion of death and disability benefits from assessed funding, and reliance on voluntary contributions for mine action services.
While many Council members—including the A3+ group (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana), EU states, China, Russia, and Pakistan—supported applying the Resolution 2719 framework to AUSSOM, the United States voiced strong opposition. A recently passed U.S. Senate measure prohibits American contributions to AUSSOM under the 2719 model, arguing that Somalia is not a suitable recipient for such funds and urging alternative financing mechanisms.
Despite divisions among Council members, there was broad agreement on the urgency of securing sustainable funding for AUSSOM. With Al-Shabaab continuing to pose a significant threat to regional stability, several delegates emphasized the need for a coordinated and timely international response.