In a critical summit held in Kampala, Heads of State and Government from countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) called for the urgent deployment of at least 8,000 additional troops to avert the rollback of security gains made in Somalia.
The summit, chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, brought together key regional leaders, including Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Djibouti’s Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense Ayisha Mehamed Musa.
In a joint communiqué issued after the extraordinary meeting, the leaders emphasized the deteriorating security situation in Somalia and the need to strengthen AUSSOM’s capacity. The mission, which was initially proposed to have 11,900 troops, will now see its capacity reviewed upwards if the proposal is implemented.
They urged the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023) as key to achieving predictable and sustainable funding for the mission. The leaders also highlighted the “importance of combating extremist propaganda by countering Al-Shabaab’s narrative through interest-based messaging rather than identity-based appeals.”
In a new development, Egypt formally joined Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia as a troop-contributing country. The summit also opened the door for bilateral troop arrangements, potentially allowing non-AU contributors like Turkey to bolster stabilization efforts. Ethiopia, notably, already maintains thousands of bilateral troops in Somalia outside the AU framework.
The Kampala summit marked a renewed show of regional solidarity toward the stabilization of Somalia amid growing concern over the resurgence of extremist threats.
Mustaqbal
