Addis Abeba — Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and security in Somalia, as uncertainty deepens over the future of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) following the United States' decision to end critical logistical funding for the mission.
According to Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country made the pledge during the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of troop-contributing countries to AUSSOM, held on Friday in Kampala, Uganda.
The Ethiopian delegation said Addis Abeba remained committed to safeguarding "the hard-won gains" made against Al-Shabaab and preventing any reversal of progress achieved over the past two decades. It also stressed that the sacrifices made by Somali, Ethiopian, Ugandan, Kenyan, Burundian and Djiboutian troops "must be protected," pledging continued cooperation with the African Union and international partners to promote lasting peace in Somalia.
The ministry said Ethiopian National Defense Forces have served under successive African Union missions in Somalia for more than 20 years, describing their contribution as a significant part of regional peace and security efforts.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
The summit took place against growing concerns over the future of AUSSOM after Washington announced it would end financial support to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) at the end of 2026 and oppose any further UN logistical backing for the mission.
Ethiopian political analysis UNSOS provides essential logistical support to AUSSOM, including troop rotations, transport, food, fuel and medical supplies. According to AFP, the office's annual operational costs amount to about $500 million--roughly three times AUSSOM's own budget.
In a letter dated 01 July, the United States cited what it described as Somalia's limited progress in combating Al-Shabaab and addressing broader security and governance challenges as the reason for ending its support.
Discover morePoliticspoliticalMagazinesHistoryNewspapersNewsAfricans & DiasporaLocal NewsMultilateral OrganizationsDemographics Defense ministers from Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, who met ahead of the summit, called for "an orderly, coordinated and phased exit" of the AU mission while Somali security forces assume greater responsibility. They also urged the UN Security Council to establish an interim support mechanism for up to two years and appealed for predictable and sustainable funding, according to a report seen by AFP.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
However, analysts say the mission's future remains uncertain without a reversal of Washington's position. Solomon Dersso, executive director of the Amani Africa think tank, told AFP that he saw little prospect of sustaining the mission if U.S. support for UNSOS ends.
Multilateral Organizations Security experts also warned that a poorly managed withdrawal could create conditions similar to Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021.
Meressa Kahsu Dessu of the Institute for Security Studies told AFP that an abrupt AU exit could produce "an Afghan scenario," warning that if the withdrawal is not carefully managed, Al-Shabaab could exploit the security vacuum in a manner comparable to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
Former Somali national security adviser and foreign minister Abdisaid Muse Ali echoed the concern, warning on X that Somalia risks repeating Afghanistan's experience if political leaders fail to strengthen state institutions before any AU drawdown. He argued that dependence on foreign troops and donor funding, combined with political infighting and weak institutions, could leave the country vulnerable as external support diminishes.
Somalia has relied on successive African Union peace support missions for nearly two decades in its fight against Al-Shabaab, which continues to control large areas of the country despite sustained military operations.
