African leaders gather in Kampala as AUSSOM funding crisis looms over Somalia security summit

Thursday July 30, 2026

Kampala (HOL) — Leaders from countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) convened in Uganda on Wednesday for a three-day summit aimed at securing the future of the peacekeeping mission as it grapples with a deepening financial crisis.

The Extraordinary Summit of AUSSOM Troop-Contributing Countries, running from July 29 to 31, brings together heads of state and government from Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. Senior representatives from the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are also participating in the high-level meeting.

Hosted under the theme, “To Sustain the Stabilisation Process in Somalia,” the summit is expected to focus on the mission’s operational future, regional security cooperation and efforts to secure sustainable funding for peace operations in Somalia.

The gathering opened Wednesday with a meeting of chiefs of defense forces, followed by a defense ministers’ meeting on Thursday. Heads of state and government are scheduled to hold their summit on Friday.

Among the international participants are the U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, the deputy special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Somalia and the head of the U.N. Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The African Union is represented by its commission chairperson, the commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, and the special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, who also heads AUSSOM. IGAD’s deputy executive secretary is also attending.

Uganda, the summit host, said the meeting underscores its commitment to regional peace, security and stability under the African Union framework, while working closely with the United Nations, IGAD and other international partners.

The talks come at a critical moment for AUSSOM, which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as the continent’s primary peace support operation in the country. The mission continues to assist Somali security forces in countering the al-Shabab insurgency while supporting stabilization efforts in areas recovered from the militant group.

However, AUSSOM faces mounting financial challenges following a decline in international donor support, raising concerns about the mission’s ability to sustain its operations and fulfill its mandate.

Analysts say the funding gap threatens not only the mission’s operational effectiveness but also broader efforts to consolidate security gains in Somalia. They argue that troop-contributing countries and international partners must reach a long-term financing arrangement to prevent disruptions that could benefit al-Shabab and undermine the Somali government’s stabilization efforts.

The Kampala summit is expected to produce recommendations on the future of AUSSOM, including strategies for sustainable financing, enhanced regional cooperation and continued international support for Somalia’s security transition.