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Hiiraan Online Today from Hiiraan Online: Somali Music Google Plus advertisements UN, AU warns Somalia mission faces collapse without urgent donor support FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail Saturday September 27, 2025 NEW YORK (HOL) — Somalia and its international partners have renewed appeals for sustained donor support to keep the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) operational, warning that recent security gains against al-Shabab could be lost without predictable funding. The United Nations has also warned that Somalia’s security transition is in jeopardy as a deepening funding crisis threatens the mission, with troops serving unpaid for more than a year while battling al-Shabab. The appeal was made during a high-level financing event held on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting, co-chaired by the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union Commission, the United Nations, and the United Kingdom, brought together senior officials and donor representatives to discuss the mission’s future and the broader Somali security transition. Secretary-General António Guterres urged donors to bridge a widening gap, saying only $24.6 million has been pledged toward the $196 million required to sustain the mission through 2025. The African Union announced a $20 million pledge to fund AUSSOM operations in 2025, along with additional personnel and logistical support to strengthen field operations. The United Kingdom followed with a £16.5 million ($21 million) pledge, reaffirming its partnership with Somalia and commitment to burden-sharing. Other countries, including Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Spain, announced or signalled forthcoming contributions. The European Union also said it would announce new support for AUSSOM’s military component “in the near future.” Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to Somalia’s security transition and underscored the principle of Somali ownership, which envisions the gradual handover of security responsibilities from international forces to Somali authorities. They praised AUSSOM’s role in supporting Somali security forces, securing main supply routes, and helping stabilize recently liberated districts. The mission, which succeeded the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), remains a key pillar of Somalia’s state-building process. Guterres warned that underfunding could reverse hard-won gains and destabilize Somalia’s transition. “Financing the mission is not an abstract exercise,” he said. “It means confronting al-Shabab, protecting civilians, enabling humanitarian access, and ensuring upcoming elections proceed securely.” “We meet at a moment of promise and peril for Somalia’s transition,” Guterres said. “Troops have remained deployed without any allowances for 15 months — essentially subsidizing the mission. This is untenable.” The African Union and Somali government reiterated that predictable, multi-year funding remains vital to prevent a resurgence of extremist violence. Somali officials agreed that recent progress, including expanded territorial control and governance reforms, could unravel without urgent donor action. Despite these pledges, the total remains a fraction of what is required. Troop-contributing countries have operated for over a year without allowances, prompting calls from Guterres and Somali officials for an equitable financing model that reflects the sacrifices of African forces on the ground. Somalia’s trajectory, Guterres noted, reflects “remarkable progress from fragility to a voice on the Security Council.” Participants commended President Mohamud’s leadership in recovering key territory, reforming payroll systems, and advancing reconciliation in liberated districts. Guterres renewed his call for implementing Security Council Resolution 2719, which authorizes predictable UN-assessed contributions for AU-led missions. He lamented that political divisions have stalled its rollout, leaving Africa-led operations reliant on ad hoc pledges. The African Union and Somali government reiterated that predictable, multi-year funding remains vital to prevent a resurgence of extremist violence. Somali officials cautioned that recent progress, including expanded territorial control and governance reforms, could unravel without urgent donor action. “The success of AUSSOM is not only a Somali imperative but central to regional and global security,” said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in remarks delivered on his behalf. The meeting was built on the 2023 Somalia Security Conference, which endorsed the Somalia Security Development Plan (SSDP) as the guiding framework for future security and governance coordination. “Somalia has come too far and sacrificed too much to see progress unravel,” Guterres concluded. “With your support, we can help build a safer Somalia, a more stable region, and a more secure world.” Opinion| Privacy Policy|Sports|Somali Music|Somali Map All Rights Reserved Copyright. © 1999-2025, www.hiiraan.com
