Saturday, July 5, 2025 — Horn Africa News (HAN)
The Government of Somalia has renewed its appeal to the international community for increased support and sustained funding for the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), stressing the operation’s vital role in the country’s security and stability.
Speaking during a virtual ministerial meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Thursday, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad), underscored the urgency of ensuring predictable financing for the mission. The meeting focused on the security situation in Somalia and the progress of AUSSOM’s operations.
Minister Ali expressed Somalia’s deep sorrow over the tragic July 2 incident in Mogadishu, in which five Ugandan peacekeepers lost their lives. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families, the Government of Uganda, and the entire AUSSOM mission.
The minister highlighted that support from Somalia’s African partners has been instrumental in reclaiming territories from extremist groups, restoring essential public services, and rebuilding key national institutions.
With AUSSOM having officially commenced full operations on July 1 under new operational guidelines, enabling the deployment of 11,911 personnel to Somalia, Minister Ali described the mission as central to Somalia’s national security agenda. He emphasized that the operation focuses on protecting civilians, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and supporting Somali forces in countering terrorist threats.
To secure the future of the mission, Minister Ali called for the convening of an AUSSOM Donor Conference, proposing that one of the Gulf states host the event.
