NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 8 — African Union Commission (AUC)Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for stronger political and financial backing for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), warning that failure to secure sustainable funding could undermine hard-won security gains against Al-Shabaab.

📻 Breaking It Down

Addressing an informal consultation of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the future of AUSSOM, Youssouf said the mission must remain sustainable, adaptable and strategically focused as Somalia moves toward assuming full responsibility for its own security.

He argued that reinforcing African ownership of peace and security efforts requires dependable financing for African-led peace support operations rather than reliance on unpredictable external funding.

“The future of AUSSOM should be guided by clear strategic objectives,” Youssouf said, calling for stronger support for the mission to reinforce African ownership of peace and security while advancing sustainable financing for AU-led operations.

📌 What You Need to Know

He said the sacrifices made by troop-contributing countries must be honoured by safeguarding the security gains achieved in Somalia through a mission that is “sustainable, adaptable and fit for purpose.”

The AU Commission Chairperson also urged Member States to accelerate operationalisation of the African Union Peace Fund, implement the Union’s 0.2 percent import levy designed to finance AU programmes, and increase direct contributions toward peace operations.

The consultation was chaired by Uganda in its capacity as Chair of the Peace and Security Council for July.

The appeal comes as AUSSOM enters its first year of operations following its launch on January 1, 2025, replacing the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

The mission was endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council in August 2024 before receiving authorization from the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 2767 in December 2024 for an initial 12-month mandate.

Unlike its predecessor, AUSSOM has been designed as a more agile, multidimensional peace support mission combining military, police and civilian components to support Somalia’s long-term state-building and security objectives.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya