The United States has agreed to give the UN an additional year to phase out its support for African peacekeepers in Somalia. This decision provides some relief to the force, which was facing quicker cuts, but still leaves its future uncertain. According to Reuters, Washington had previously indicated it would block the UN from supporting the African Union force, which props up the Somali government and helps fight al Qaeda-linked militants.
The new 12-month deadline, which starts in January, allows the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to continue its operations until the end of 2027. Without this extension, funding for UNSOS would have ceased at the end of December, when its mandate expires. The US State Department spokesperson stated that Washington would no longer fund or support the UN office in Somalia, which has a total budget of around $500 million.
The decision was communicated to embassies in a diplomatic note, according to Reuters. Five diplomatic sources and a Somali government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the 12-month deadline. Somalia's defence ministry, UNSOS, and the African Union Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The African Union force, known as AUSSOM, plays a crucial role in supporting Somali security forces in the fight against al-Shabaab and maintaining security in areas affected by the insurgency. Kenyan troops are also part of this strategic force. Experts warn that without AUSSOM, Somalia would face a significant risk of state fragmentation and disintegration.
Financing for the AU mission has become increasingly precarious, leading to a huge funding shortfall. Washington last year blocked a plan to shift to a financing model that would have seen UN funds cover three-quarters of the peacekeeping mission's $190 million annual budget. Analysts say the shutdown of UNSOS could spell the end for AUSSOM.
Somalia has been plagued by chaos and internal conflict since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Islamists have strengthened their control of the countryside and, two decades ago, seized the capital before being forced out by a joint Ethiopian and Somali government force. The country's defence ministry and other stakeholders must now find alternative funding or risk the collapse of the peacekeeping force.
The US decision provides some breathing space for Somalia and its partners to find alternative backers, but does not lift the threat over the peacekeeping force's future. According to Afyare Elmi, a professor at the City University of Mogadishu, AUSSOM is a key pillar of Somalia's state, and its loss would have severe consequences. Samira Gaid, a regional security analyst, warns that the AU must either find alternative logistics arrangements or draw down and exit.
Key points
- The US has given the UN a one-year deadline to wind down its support for African peacekeepers in Somalia.
- The African Union force, AUSSOM, plays a crucial role in supporting Somali security forces in the fight against al-Shabaab.
- Financing for the AU mission has become increasingly precarious, leading to a huge funding shortfall.
