Saturday April 26, 2025 {HMC} Countries contributing troops towards peace efforts in Somalia have urged the African Union Commission, in coordination with partners, to mobilise resources to support the mission.

The Summit of Heads of State and Government of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCS) to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) stressed the importance of addressing operational shortfalls through the provision of adequate, sustainable, and predictable funding.

In a meeting held on April 25 at State House in Entebe Uganda, the forum requested the African Union Commission to develop a Resource Mobilisation Strategy and Financing for AUSSOM.

The meeting further urged “rapid force generation to fill identified capability gaps, ensuring mission effectiveness and boosting morale among deployed personnel.”

The meeting underscored the importance to increase the troops by at least an additional 8,000 to AUSSOM Troops’ surge to address the prevailing security situation in Somalia, so as not to roll back the hard-earned gains made so far.

It further called for enhancing Somali National Armed Forces training command to support the training of the Somali Security Forces to enhance a coordinated force generation process to ensure an integrated doctrinal approach.

The member countries reaffirmed the need to establish mechanisms for countering extremist narratives to counter Al Shabaab propaganda.

The meeting was held at the invitation of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda.

The Summit was attended by Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (President of the Federal Republic of Somalia), Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya) Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed (Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti), Dr. Mostafa Madbouly (Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt), and Ayisha Mehamed Musa (Minister of Defence of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia).

It was also attended by the Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (chairperson of the African Union Commission); Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu (Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development); James Swan (acting Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and head of the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia); and Aisa Kacyira Kirabo (Assistant Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia).

Also in attendance were the representatives of the European Union Delegation; the United Kingdom and Great Britain; and the United States of America.

The purpose of the summit was to receive a report of the Ministerial meeting (Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence) on the review and proposed way forward on the security situation and performance of AUSSOM, update on the Somali Security Forces (SSFs) state of preparedness and progress in Force Generation, Integration and Mentorship, status of handed over Forward Operating Bases, the AUSSOM Exit plan, funding of AUSSOM and TCCs Plus Somalia Peer Review Mechanism for Oversight, Accountability, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation for AUSSOM and SSDP.

Saturday April 26, 2025 {HMC} African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called on the Federal Government of Somalia to intensify its political efforts in building state institutions, emphasizing the need for greater inclusivity within the National Consultative Council to include participation from all federal member states.

Speaking Friday at a high-level summit of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Entebbe, Uganda, Youssouf stressed that broadening political participation was vital to ensuring Somalia’s long-term stability.

“The Federal Government of Somalia should speed up the state institution-building processes, including a greater inclusivity at the level of the National Consultation Council with the participation of all federal states,” Youssouf said.

In March, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud invited political leaders, including his rivals, to shape a unified national effort to defeat the Al-Shabaab insurgency and strengthen Somalia’s federal system.

The summit, hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, brought together regional leaders and senior officials, including Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Ethiopian Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed Mussa. Representatives from the United Nations, IGAD, and the broader diplomatic community also attended.

Youssouf praised the troop-contributing countries for their sacrifices in supporting Somalia’s stabilization efforts and honored the memory of soldiers who had fallen in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants. He noted that while territorial gains against Al-Shabaab should be recognized, consolidating those achievements remains critical.

“The gains of territories against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab have to be recognized,” he said. “However, it is paramount to consolidate those gains by making AUSSOM fully operational.”

Highlighting the recent transition from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to AUSSOM and the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, Youssouf warned that implementation remains sluggish and requires renewed commitment. He said that up to $190 million must be mobilized in 2025 to sustain the two phases of the ATMIS-AUSSOM transition.

Youssouf urged Somalia to accelerate the force generation process to ensure that Somali security forces can hold frontline positions more sustainably as international forces draw down.

“Despite the financial challenges, the African Union will continue to support peace and stability in Somalia,” he said, warning that failure to maintain momentum would risk losing the hard-won gains achieved over nearly two decades of international engagement.

He also called on African nations to rely more on domestic resources to ease pressure on the AU Peace Fund, stressing the importance of solidarity in ensuring the success of the stabilization mission.

Saturday April 26, 2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the Summit of Heads of State and Government of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) on Friday at the State House in Entebbe, Uganda.

Addressing regional and international leaders, President Mohamud highlighted recent gains in the fight against terrorism and outlined progress under the Somalia Security Development Plan.

The President expressed deep appreciation to the troop-contributing countries of the former African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and its successor, AUSSOM, praising their sacrifices and continued commitment to Somalia’s stabilization efforts.

“[AU mission’s support] has been vital in degrading Al-Shabaab, expanding humanitarian access, supporting political transition, training Somali security forces, and saving lives,” President Mohamud said.

The summit brought together leaders from Kenya, Djibouti, Egypt, and Ethiopia, along with representatives from the United Nations, African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), European Union, United Kingdom, and United States.

Participants agreed on several key measures aimed at strengthening Somalia’s security architecture. These included accelerating support for training and equipping the Somali National Army, enhancing air support and intelligence-sharing for counterterrorism operations, and advancing the AUSSOM fundraising strategy. Leaders also emphasized the importance of cooperation between Somalia’s federal government and its member states to maintain stability in newly liberated areas.

The summit commended Somalia’s recent achievements, including its admission to the East African Community (EAC), election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the lifting of the decades-long arms embargo, financial sector reforms, and the launch of voter registration ahead of the country’s first universal elections in more than half a century.

AUSSOM officially replaced ATMIS in January 2024 and is tasked with supporting Somali security forces as they gradually assume full responsibility for national defense.

Saturday April 26, 2025 {HMC}  Somali National Army (SNA) elite Danab Commandos killed at least 21 Al-Shabaab militants during a targeted operation in the Baladul-Amin area of the Lower Shabelle region on Friday, military officials said.

Officials told state-owned media that a local Al-Shabaab commander was among those killed in the operation, which also destroyed a hideout used by the militants.

Authorities confirmed that no civilian casualties occurred during the mission.

The strike comes as Somalia’s military faces renewed challenges in its broader campaign against Al-Shabaab across the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions.

In recent weeks, Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks, including a major assault on Aadan Yabaal, a strategic town in the Middle Shabelle region, further testing government forces’ ability to hold recaptured areas.

The Somali government, supported by international partners, continues to conduct joint ground and air operations aimed at degrading the group’s operational capacity and reclaiming territory.