KAMPALA, Uganda — (Horn Post) African leaders contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have appealed for urgent international financial support after the mission faced a widening funding gap following the suspension of U.S. financial assistance.
The appeal was made during an extraordinary summit held on July 31 in Kampala, hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, where heads of state and senior officials agreed that sustaining security gains against Al-Shabaab will require predictable long-term funding.
The summit acknowledged that AUSSOM is experiencing severe financial constraints and called for an international donors’ conference to mobilize new resources for the mission.
Uganda
As host of the summit and one of AUSSOM’s largest troop contributors, Uganda emphasized that maintaining military pressure on Al-Shabaab remains essential while Somalia strengthens its national security institutions.
President Museveni urged participating countries and international partners to secure sustainable financing before any major reduction in international support.
Somalia
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to assuming full responsibility for national security but acknowledged that Somali forces still require continued international military, financial and logistical support during the transition period.
The summit encouraged the Federal Government of Somalia to deepen cooperation with federal member states and traditional elders in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
Kenya
Kenya, another major troop contributor, backed continued regional cooperation and supported calls for predictable international funding, stressing that instability in Somalia directly threatens regional security across East Africa.
Djibouti
Djibouti reiterated the importance of maintaining coordinated regional security efforts and supported strengthening Somalia’s security institutions to ensure a stable transition from international peacekeeping operations.
Burundi
Burundi, whose troops have served in Somalia for nearly two decades, supported extending international assistance while Somali forces continue building operational capacity.
Egypt
Egypt participated at ministerial level and backed efforts to strengthen Somalia’s state institutions while supporting diplomatic initiatives to secure sustainable financing for AUSSOM.
Ethiopia
Represented by Special Envoy Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, Ethiopia supported continued regional security cooperation and emphasized strengthening the operational capabilities of Somali security forces during the transition.
African Union
African Union officials warned that the mission requires stable and predictable financing to prevent security gains from being reversed and endorsed plans to seek additional donor support.
United Nations
The United Nations reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s security transition and participated in discussions on future arrangements following the expected transition from the current UN support framework.
Key Decisions
Leaders endorsed a phased and coordinated transition of AUSSOM while recommending that international mission support continue for 18 to 24 months.
The communiqué also called for:
- Expanding air assets and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
- Increasing training for the Somali National Armed Forces.
- Strengthening intelligence-sharing and regional counterterrorism cooperation.
- Organizing an international donors’ conference to close AUSSOM’s funding gap.
- Submitting the summit’s recommendations to the African Union Peace and Security Council before onward transmission to the United Nations Security Council.
The summit concluded that sustained international financial and political support will be critical to preventing security setbacks as Somalia works toward assuming full responsibility for its national security.
Prepared by:
Horn Post Staff
KAMPALA, Uganda
