By Asha Elmi - Reporter
NEW YORK, September 24, 2026 - Somalia needs predictable funding as its forces take on more security duties, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, calling for adequate financing for the African Union mission in the country.
"The transition towards full Somali security responsibility must be properly resourced, phased and firmly anchored in capable Somali institutions," Mohamud said.
He said Somalia was strengthening its security institutions, building its forces, developing intelligence capabilities and expanding cooperation with other countries. The fight against terrorism in Somalia also affected regional and international security, he said.
Related articles
His appeal comes amid uncertainty over support for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. The U.N. Support Office in Somalia, or UNSOS, provides the mission with logistics including food, water, fuel, medical services and troop transport.
The United States has agreed to allow a further 12 months for the United Nations to wind down that support, Reuters reported on Sept. 18, citing a diplomatic note. The proposed period would begin in January 2027, but the timetable is expected to be discussed by the U.N. Security Council in December. The current authorisations for AUSSOM and UNSOS support run to Dec. 31, 2026.
The African Union has put AUSSOM's annual budget at about $196 million and said it faced a $75.8 million funding gap in 2025. That figure does not establish how much remains unfunded in 2026. Mohamud did not give a funding target or a date for Somali forces to assume full security responsibility.