KAMPALA — Uganda is hosting an extraordinary summit of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as regional leaders meet to discuss the future of the mission amid uncertainty over its financing beyond 2026.
The three-day summit has brought together military chiefs, defence ministers, and heads of state from Somalia, Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, and other troop-contributing countries to assess the security situation in Somalia and chart the next phase of the African Union-led mission.
A key issue dominating the discussions is the mission’s financial future after the United States indicated it would not support funding for the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the logistics mechanism underpinning AUSSOM, beyond December 2026. The announcement has prompted regional leaders to explore alternative funding arrangements to prevent a security gap as Somalia continues operations against al-Shabaab.
According to Uganda’s Ministry of Defence, the summit is being held under the theme “To Sustain the Stabilisation Process in Somalia” and is expected to produce recommendations on force generation, operational priorities, and long-term financing for the mission.
The meeting comes as Somali security forces, backed by AUSSOM troops and international partners, continue military operations against al-Shabaab while gradually assuming greater responsibility for the country’s security. Regional officials have stressed that maintaining international support remains critical to preserving security gains and preventing the militant group from regaining territory.
Senior representatives from the African Union, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are also participating in the summit, reflecting the broad and long-term security transition.
