The United Kingdom has announced a contribution of over $30 million (Sh4.2 billion) to strengthen Somalia’s security transition and support Somali forces and African Union partners in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
$8 million (Sh1.2 billion) will be released to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) Trust Fund, administered via the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) office for the Somali National Army (SNA) and police, to provide vital non-lethal logistical support, including food rations, fuel, communication equipment, tentage, and life-saving medical evacuation services for Somali security personnel.
British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, said the new support underlines the UK’s commitment to helping Somali forces make progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab. King noted that ensuring frontline soldiers receive essential supplies and emergency medical care is crucial for their morale and operational effectiveness.
“It builds on the UK’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Somalia’s security institutions and support the transition process as the country takes greater responsibility for its own security.”
In 2024, UK funding enabled UNSOS to deliver 6,000 tons of food rations, 2,000 tons of diesel fuel, and essential casualty evacuation services for hundreds of wounded personnel. The latest contribution will further boost UNSOS’s ability to support the 18,900 Somali security personnel currently benefiting from the fund, with plans to expand this to 20,900 in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2767.
Meanwhile, the rest, $22 million (Sh3.08 billion), via the ongoing AU Security Support Mission (AUSSOM), which has been grappling with funding shortages that have hindered the deployment of its needed force capacity.
Despite the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 in December 2023, which established a hybrid funding model allowing 75 per cent of AUSSOM’s costs to be covered by UN-assessed contributions, the mechanism has not been activated due to a lack of UN Security Council authorisation.
Consequently, the mission kicked off its mandate with limited funding that threatens its operations and risks the gains made in counter terrorism efforts in Somalia.
Efforts by the AUC to marshal up funding to the mission have yet to bear much fruit, with the commission now calling on troops contributing nations to cater to their soldiers’ needs on a bilateral basis while still helping to source external donor support for the mission.
As such, Kenya has this week stressed the urgent need to sustain AUSSOM by fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for predictable financing of AU-led peace operations.
“The widening funding gap poses a serious threat to AUSSOM, whose mandate expires at the end of this year. Financial uncertainty undermines mission readiness, emboldens extremist groups, and threatens to reverse the gains achieved through years of sacrifice and solidarity,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York.
He further urged the UN and AU to adopt a hybrid financing model anchored on UN-assessed contributions to cover troop stipends, logistics, mobility, and operational needs. Such a framework, he said, would guarantee predictability and effectiveness.
AUSSOM, which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), came into effect on January 1, 2025.
It was mandated to provide support to the Somali security forces in degrading Al-Shabaab through coordination with local security agencies and international partners, disrupting its movement, and restricting its access to illicit finance.
It is also meant to assist the Somali security forces in providing security for political processes at all levels, in line with the country’s stabilisation Plan and get them ready for full security responsibilities in line with the plan secure key population centres, including federal and Federal Member State capitals, key installations and critical infrastructure such as airports and seaports; protect AU and UN personnel, installations and assets.
It is also meant to support the Somali Police Force in maintaining public order, internal security, and protecting communities.
