MOGADISHU — At least 10 Kenyan civilian employees working with the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team (AU-UN IST) in Somalia have been notified that their contracts will end on September 10, as a worsening funding crisis forces the United Nations to reduce parts of its operations in the country.
The planned contract terminations are raising concerns among staff and observers that the reductions could expand, with a source familiar with the process warning that additional job losses may occur in the coming days, weeks and months.
The cuts come as the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) begins disposing of a range of mission assets, including vehicles, heavy machinery, information-technology equipment and medical supplies. The move is being viewed as a sign of a significant reduction in the mission’s operational footprint and capacity.
The impact could extend beyond UN personnel. UNSOS plays a critical logistical role in supporting the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), providing essential services such as transportation, aviation support, medical assistance, communications and engineering.
Any substantial reduction in these capabilities could create additional pressure on Somalia’s security operations, particularly as Somali and African Union forces continue efforts to combat militant groups and strengthen security across the country.
The funding crisis is also affecting Somalia’s humanitarian sector, where international aid reductions are already having a direct impact on vulnerable communities.
More than 200 health and nutrition facilities have reportedly closed across Somalia because of cuts in humanitarian funding. Under a worst-case scenario, the number of closures could rise to as many as 618 facilities, potentially leaving thousands of vulnerable people with reduced access to essential healthcare and nutrition services.
The situation comes amid worsening malnutrition among children. Somalia has recorded a 32 percent increase in children being admitted to stabilisation centres with severe acute malnutrition and related complications compared with the same period last year.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued reductions in funding could place additional pressure on an already fragile health system and increase the risks facing children and families affected by conflict, displacement, drought and food insecurity.
For Kenyan nationals working for international missions in Somalia, the latest developments also highlight the wider employment impact of the funding crisis. Many Kenyan professionals have traditionally worked across UN, humanitarian and security-support operations in Somalia, making funding reductions a potential source of significant job losses.
The combination of staff reductions, asset disposals and the closure of health and nutrition facilities underscores the growing financial pressure facing Somalia’s international security and humanitarian response.
With funding commitments coming under increasing strain, concerns are growing that further reductions could weaken both humanitarian assistance and the logistical support required for security operations at a critical time for Somalia.
