New York (HAN) — The African Union’s top official has warned that Somalia’s fragile progress could unravel unless international partners urgently close a nearly $200 million funding shortfall for the continent’s newest peace mission.
Speaking Thursday at a high-level pledging conference on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf praised Somalia’s recent achievements — from debt relief to securing a seat on the UN Security Council — but cautioned that the al-Shabaab insurgency continues to pose a serious threat.
“Somalia cannot shoulder this burden alone,” Youssouf said. “Without urgent, predictable, and sustainable financing, hard-won achievements risk being undone.”
Youssouf stressed that the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced ATMIS in January, will require $196 million in 2025. While the AU has doubled its Peace Fund contribution to $20 million, he urged the UN, EU, and other partners to match Africa’s commitment.
Framing AUSSOM as the AU’s final mission in Somalia, Youssouf emphasized that the deployment is not open-ended but designed as a bridge to full Somali ownership of its security. “Together, let us ensure Somalia’s future is defined by hope, not relapse,” he said.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud chaired the session, co-convened by the AU, UN, and United Kingdom. Ministers from troop-contributing countries and other international partners attended, highlighting both Somalia’s progress and the persistent threat from al-Shabaab.
The debate over funding reflects broader divisions among donors on how to sustain African-led peace operations. Critics warn that hybrid financing models proposed by the UN and AU risk inefficiency, while supporters argue they are essential to preserve fragile gains in the Horn of Africa.
AUSSOM’s mandate focuses on consolidating security gains while gradually handing responsibility to Somali forces. It follows ATMIS, which itself succeeded AMISOM — launched in 2007 and credited with critical counterterrorism operations against al-Shabaab.
For now, however, the mission’s future remains clouded by funding uncertainty and donor disagreements, underscoring the stakes for Somalia’s security and stability.
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