The African Union’s stabilization efforts in Somalia are facing fresh challenges, as military officials warn that the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) urgently needs an additional 8,000 troops to contain a growing threat from Al-Shabab militants.
In a joint statement issued after a three-day security meeting in Uganda, representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, the African Union, and several international organizations voiced deep concerns over the deteriorating situation in Somalia. Officials highlighted that current troop levels are insufficient, allowing Al-Shabab to regain control over key areas, particularly in Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.
The military heads cautioned that both Jowhar and the capital, Mogadishu, are now under direct threat of militant attacks, noting that hard-won security gains achieved over the past two years risk being reversed without urgent reinforcements.
Adding to the mission’s challenges is Burundi’s decision to withdraw a significant portion of its troops. Burundi’s contingent currently makes up nearly 20 percent of AUSSOM’s 11,146-strong force. The planned pullout, linked to disagreements with Mogadishu over the deployment scale and equipment standards of Burundian troops, threatens to widen existing security gaps.
Sources familiar with the situation say Somalia had proposed retaining around 1,000 Burundian troops, a figure Burundi viewed as disrespectfully low given its longstanding sacrifices in Somalia. Following these tensions, the African Union directed the UN office in Somalia to assist in repatriating Burundi’s forces.
In addition to the troop shortage, AUSSOM faces severe financial difficulties. Delegates urged international partners to address an estimated $96 million shortfall from the previous ATMIS mission, alongside an additional $60 million required to sustain AUSSOM operations for the next four months.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has intensified attacks in recent months, even targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in Mogadishu earlier this year. Analysts warn that without prompt reinforcements and funding, the peacekeeping mission could lose critical ground, further destabilizing Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.