Ethiopian Peacekeeping Troops To Remain In Somalia As AUSSOM Extended To December 2026

The security councils of the African Union and the United Nations have extended the life of the ongoing AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by a year as peacekeeping efforts continue to suffer from a chronic funding shortage.

The new expiration date for AUSSOM, which was supposed to be a one-year mission, is December 2026. Ethiopia has agreed to keep its peacekeeping troops in Somalia under the revised schedule.

As per the latest decision, troop contributing countries (TCCs) including Ethiopia and Egypt, “continue to deploy up to 11,826 uniformed personnel, inclusive of 680 police personnel, to AUSSOM until that date. The additional support to AUSSOM and the Somali Security Forces is necessary to enable Somalia to bolster its fight against Al-Shabaab and improve peace and security in the country and the region.”

The AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) also welcomed the readiness of Egypt to finalize the deployment of contingents in Somalia, while requesting troops from Burundi, Ghana, and Sierra Leone to remain in place until Egyptian troops are deployed to avoid a “security vacuum.”

Uganda and Ethiopia have deployed additional troops in Somalia on a bilateral arrangement basis, as a short-term measure, continuing their commitment and sacrifices in addressing the prevailing security situation in Somalia.

Last year, after Ethiopia disclosed potential plans to recognize Somaliland, Mogadishu threatened to expel Ethiopia from AUSSOM. It remains unclear whether Ethiopia will follow through in light of Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland this week.

Some analysts fear the circumstances could renew tensions between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.

AUPSC also commended Somalia’s reaffirmed commitment and progress made towards one-person-one vote elections in December 2026; and encouraged continued inclusive political engagements in the country.

The AU also underscored the need to cultivate local security forces as a critical step in informing the exit strategy.

Meanwhile, AUPSC reiterated its deep concern over the persistent financial gaps to support the operations of AUSSOM, which it deems critical for the peace, security and stability in Somalia, the region and the continent at large.

A statement issued by the Council this week indicates the AU Commission has allocated USD 20 million from the AU Peace Fund towards peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, but notes the funding has not yet been released.

On the other hand, the UNSC decided that the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) shall cease all operations on 31 October 2026 after completing the second phase of its transition.

During its meeting on December 23, 2025, members of the UNSC raised strong concerns regarding the funding shortfalls of AUSSOM.

Sierra Leone’s delegate, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia, stated “Regrettably, some of our core concerns were not reflected in the text,” adding that the financing of AUSSOM had not been a central issue throughout the negotiations despite being the core concern.

Nevertheless, his group voted in favour of the text, recognizing the need for Council authorization “as the basis for continued support to AUSSOM by international donors.” The chronic underfunding of AUSSOM seriously impedes its objectives and risks reversing the progress achieved, he warned.

Several speakers echoed that, with the representative of France saying: “It is now more urgent than ever that new donors mobilize in support of security in Somalia.”

Denmark’s delegate highlighted AUSSOM’s role in providing logistical support to UNSOS in Somalia’s fight against Al Shabaab and in strengthening stabilization efforts. “Further progress must be made on the national level for Somalia to assume full responsibility for its security,” he emphasized.

The speaker for Pakistan said that while Al-Shabaab and its affiliates threaten peace in Somalia, sustainable and predictable financing for the Mission remains vital. AUSSOM, operating under the principles of national ownership and in full respect of national sovereignty, has a critical role to play.

The Russian Federation’s delegate stressed that the focus of the resolution should continue to be the security issue and support for AUSSOM. Domestic political issues in Somalia and the activities of the transition assistance mission and the relevant reports of the UN Secretary-General are “secondary in nature” and not a mandatory precondition for the Council to authorize the work of African peacekeepers in Somalia.

Stressing the need to listen to Somalia, he added: “We fail to understand the attempts by some delegations to defend the expansion of the UN Secretary General’s reporting on Somalia.”

The United Kingdom’s representative, however, said the text creates a process to enable an informed review of the logistical support provided by the UN. This adoption follows the recent extension of the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime, he said, adding: “Taken together, these decisions demonstrate the Council’s continued determination to support Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab.”

China’s delegate said the funding gap facing AUSSOM is unsustainable and the liquidity shortfall confronting UNSOS merits concern. He called on donors to honour their funding commitments, paying their assessed peacekeeping contributions to UNSOS in full and on time. Further, the Secretary-General must present practical proposals on adjusting support for AUSSOM and bridging the funding gap, he said, calling on UNTMIS to ensure a smooth second phase of the transition.

As the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, “China shoulders nearly one quarter of the unsourced budget and has made significant contributions to the logistical support of AUSSOM over the years”, he said.

The United States, that country’s delegate said, has contributed billions of dollars to various missions in Somalia. Expressing concern that the “transfer of most security functions to Somalia has been elusive”, he said the responsibility for combating Al-Shabaab and other terrorism threats must shift “primarily to those who have the most at stake.”