AU’s Somalia Peacekeeping Mission Warns Funding Gaps Threaten Gains Against Al-Shabaab

Somalia, 14 January 2014 - Somalia’s African Union–backed peacekeeping mission has warned that funding shortfalls and logistical constraints risk undermining recent military gains against Al-Shabaab, even as Somali forces push the group out of key territories.

In an exclusive interview with Dawan Africa's Sitrep program, El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, the African Union Special Representative and head of the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), said progress on the battlefield depends on sustained financial support, cautioning that momentum could stall at a critical phase of the campaign.

“The success we are seeing today is due to the coordinated efforts of AUSSOM, Somali forces, and our international partners,” Diene said. “But we cannot afford to lose momentum. The financial support needed to sustain our operations is a key issue.”

Somali forces, backed by international partners, have recently pushed Al-Shabaab fighters back by an estimated 100 to 120 kilometers from major towns, marking one of the most significant territorial gains against the group in recent years. The recapture of towns such as Sabib Anoole and Barire has disrupted Al-Shabaab’s taxation networks and restricted its freedom of movement between key strongholds.