Future of AU mission in Somalia at stake after US ends funds
The future of the African Union mission in Somalia is in jeopardy after the United States announced it would cease funding and political support by the end of the year. Experts warn that the withdrawal of support could lead to the collapse of the Somali government against Al-Shabaab insurgents.
Why it matters
The loss of international funding for peacekeeping missions in volatile regions poses a severe risk to regional stability and counter-terrorism efforts.
Leaders of countries making up an African Union military mission in Somalia were to discuss its future at talks in Uganda on Friday, after Washington announced it would end political support and critical funding.
Somalia has battled Al-Shabaab insurgents for around two decades but the Islamist group still controls vast swathes of the country.
The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is the leading force supporting the Somali army, providing roughly 12,000 troops.
But the United States has announced it will end payments to the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which crucially provides logistics to the mission, at the end of this year.
Washington said it would also oppose any further UN logistical support to AUSSOM.
In a July 1 letter, Washington accused Somalia’s government of a lack of progress against Al-Shabaab and in addressing security and governance challenges.
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