Somalia’s African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS) faces potential delays in its final transition due to significant funding gaps and rising tensions with Ethiopia, placing the mission’s completion at risk.
The transition’s future was discussed as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently met with leaders from troop-contributing countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti. President Mohamud emphasized Somalia’s stance on controlling the mission’s next phase, stressing the country’s desire for leadership over military contributions. Somalia aims to exclude Ethiopian troops from the mission, seeking their eventual withdrawal from Somali territory.
However, the international community remains divided on financial support for the mission’s new structure. While the United States and key allies back a fresh peacekeeping framework to commence in 2026, several United Nations Security Council members are concerned about the feasibility of Somalia’s approach. In response, U.N. officials have proposed a mandate extension for ATMIS, allowing additional time to assess the mission’s structure.
The stance reflects Somalia’s broader pursuit of autonomy in its security framework, though funding issues and regional dynamics continue to pose significant challenges. The outcome of these discussions will likely shape Somalia’s long-term stability and the evolving role of foreign forces within its borders as The African Union seeks a resolution.
