The African Union has urgently called on Somalia to nominate representatives for upcoming consultations on the future of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The request comes as the mission grapples with mounting financial challenges that threaten its long-term sustainability.
In a formal invitation, the AU stated that the consultations stem from a July 8 decision by the African Union Peace and Security Council to establish a task force to evaluate strategic options for AUSSOM. Technical meetings are scheduled for July 22-24 in Addis Ababa, involving Somali officials, AUSSOM, UNSOS, UNOAU, and troop-contributing countries.
The discussions will inform high-level meetings in Kampala, Uganda, including military and police chiefs on July 29, defence ministers on July 30, and an extraordinary summit of troop-contributing country leaders on July 31. The AU emphasized the need for Somalia to submit delegate names promptly to facilitate arrangements.
The consultations will cover operational, political, financial, and legal aspects of AUSSOM, including force structure, logistics, risk assessments, and Somalia’s security transition. Without predictable funding, the AU warns the mission may struggle to maintain its current strength, affecting security gains and the gradual handover to Somali forces.
Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: Garowe Online
