Somalia

The Federal Government of Somalia has repeatedly used the ‘persona non grata’ principle to expel senior representatives of African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) missions, citing ‘misconduct’ and ‘interference in internal affairs.’ Somalia is also playing a more pronounced but contested role in planning, deploying and repatriating AU peace support operations (PSOs) in the country. These moves undermine missions' independence and hamper their ability to carry out mandated tasks. They also question host nations’ increasing role in shaping mission strategy and operations. As the UN and AU explore the future of PSOs, the implications for existing and future peace missions must be considered.

The African Union (AU) Support and Stabilisation Mission (AUSSOM) became de jure operational on 1 January 2025 under huge financial deficits and without a clear financing modality. … While the changing security dynamics prompted the summit of troop contributing countries (TCCs) hosted by Uganda on 25 April 2025 to call for the mobilisation of an additional 8000 troops, the growing financial deficit of the mission and the lack of its financing model remain unchanged.

Turkey is boosting its military presence in Somalia by deploying 500 troops specializing in counterterrorism and drone operations in response to recent territorial gains by al-Shabaab.

Yesterday the UN Security Council missed a self-imposed deadline to offer the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) a financial lifeline from the UN budget. … The future of AUSSOM, which began operations at the beginning of 2025, is now in doubt.

The new AU mission holds potential, but only if the UN, the AU and Somalia step up to resolve perennial challenges of past efforts.

The United States has maintained its stance on funding for Uganda’s African Union Support Operation Mission (AUSSOM), the U.S. envoy in Kampala said Monday, signaling no shift in Washington’s position amid ongoing scrutiny of regional peacekeeping efforts.

Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has issued a strong statement against the Acting Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Amb. Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, accused him of sympathizing with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Minister Fiqi alleged that the South African diplomat--who also serves as the Deputy and Acting Special Representative of the African Union for Somalia--has submitted misleading reports to international bodies, including the UN Security Council, portraying Al-Shabaab as a group seeking statehood and reducing civilian harm, which he called a blatant distortion of reality.

Al Shabaab fighters attacked a town in central Somalia on Wednesday that government forces have been using as a staging area for their efforts to drive back the militants, who have been gaining ground in recent weeks, residents said.

The United States is clear that it will not support the United Nations’ proposed funding model for the African Union security force in Somalia, placing a large question mark over the international mission to contain the jihadist Al Shabab group. The UN Security Council is due to vote in mid-May on the “hybrid” funding model based on Resolution 2719, which allows African Union, or AU, peacekeeping missions in the continent to be at least partly funded by UN-assessed contributions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of James Swan of the United States as his Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).