The Government of Ethiopia pledged that it will continue its support regarding the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) at a time when concerns are mounting in regards to the future operations following U.S.’s unilateral decision to suspend all financial support regarding the logistical operations until at the end of 2026.
The government of Ethiopia made its stance clear in the Extraordinary Summit of countries that contribute troops to AUSSOM which took place in Kampala, Uganda, an official statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Ethiopia said that it is committed to safeguarding the gains so far made on the fight against Al-Shabaab for the past 20 years, noting the self-sacrifices made by forces from Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti cannot be allowed to waste.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia further disclosed that its Defense Forces were participating in the AUSSOM operations for more than 20 years, and further pledged to continue to work with the African Union and international partners in the efforts to strengthen peace and the stability in Somalia.
The summit comes at a time when there are mounting concerns over U.S.’s decision to suspend the financial support allotted to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which provides essential logistics services—such as transport, supplies, food, fuel, and medical services to AUSSOM operations.
During the defense ministerial meeting of countries contributing troops to AUSSOM operations in Somalia, a call was made for the withdrawal of the African Union mission to be gradual, coordinated while the security responsibilities are gradually transferred to the Somali security forces. They also requested that the United Nations Security Council establish a transitional support mechanism for a period of two years.
However, security analysts warn that if a solution regarding funding for the mission is not found, a hasty withdrawal could create a security vacuum that Al-Shabaab might exploit, drawing parallels to the situation in Afghanistan following the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021.
Somalia has relied on the African Union operations for nearly two years to combat Al-Shabaab, which still controls many areas despite ongoing military operations.
