Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has made a passionate appeal for urgent reinforcements in Somalia, warning that hard-won security gains risk being reversed amid a surge in Al-Shabaab activity.
Speaking during a high-level ministerial meeting of Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs) held in Kampala, Oboth cautioned that recent militant gains in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions where Al-Shabaab has reclaimed some Forward Operating Bases could destabilise both Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
“Terrorism remains a grave threat to Somalia and the region,” Oboth said, condemning recent attacks on African Union forces, Somali security personnel, and civilians.
He proposed the establishment of a TCC-Somalia Peer-Review Mechanism chaired by Presiden Museveni and supported by the African Union (AU) Commission to monitor progress and accountability in the mission.
Despite financial constraints, Oboth acknowledged that TCCs have continued to deploy troops under difficult conditions, and he appealed for additional support from the AU Peace Fund and international partners, including the United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The meeting, hosted in Kampala, brought together foreign and defence ministers from TCCs, as well as representatives from key international partners, to address the escalating threat posed by Al-Shabaab and reinforce efforts under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which is transitioning to the new AU-led Somalia Security and Stabilisation Mission (AUSSOM).
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, echoed the call for sustainable political and financial backing. He highlighted the importance of fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which advocates for predictable and sustainable funding for African-led peace operations.
“For nearly 20 years, TCCs have stood by Somalia. Thousands paid the ultimate price for peace,” Youssouf said. “AUSSOM cannot succeed without adequate resources. The AU is requesting only $190 million for 2025—far less than the $7 billion piracy once cost the world annually.”
Youssouf emphasised that the AU is engaging multiple partners to ensure that UN statutory contributions become part of the solution, underlining that global peace is a shared responsibility.
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Uganda and other TCCs for their sacrifices over nearly two decades.
“Your commitment and bravery have written a chapter of African solidarity that history will not forget,” he remarked. “We have a functioning government, a growing national army, and defined political structures. But we cannot complete this fight alone.”
Amb. Fiqi called for urgent reinforcements, especially quick reaction forces and a coordinated multi-sector offensive to retake areas lost to the militants.
Somalia’s Defence Minister, Hon. Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, affirmed his country’s steady progress from fragility to stability. He pointed to the establishment of a Joint Operations Centre and the implementation of the Somali Security and Development Plan (SSDP), launched in December 2023.
“With your continued support, we are forging a sovereign, peaceful Somalia,” he said. “We will never forget the sacrifices made by TCCs and international partners.”
Ministers from Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kenya also reiterated their commitment to Somalia’s security and long-term regional stability.
The Egyptian delegation underscored the importance of regional coordination through the African Union Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council Resolution 2767 of 2024. In a notable diplomatic development, Egypt announced the elevation of bilateral relations with Somalia to a strategic partnership, following a political declaration signed in January 2025.
They called for a comprehensive model of support—blending peace building, security sector reform, and institutional development—and emphasised respect for Somalia’s national ownership of its counterterrorism efforts.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Mohammed Mussa, highlighted the need for innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, in response to recent Al-Shabaab attacks. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Soipan Tuya, acknowledged the operational challenges linked to the ATMIS-AUSSOM transition and warned of donor fatigue.
“Somalia’s stability is integral to regional and global security,” she said, urging a unified approach to sustain the mission’s momentum.
International partners including the UN, EU, UK, and US also weighed in. While the AU and UN back a hybrid financing model under UNSC Resolution 2719, the US suggested exploring alternative mechanisms. However, the EU maintained that the 2719 framework remains the most viable solution.
H.E. Aisha Keita, head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), stressed the importance of timely logistical coordination to keep operations afloat.
AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Bankole Adeoye, underscored the need for shared responsibility to avoid a destabilising and premature withdrawal from Somalia.
The meeting was also attended by the AU’s Special Representative to Somalia, Ambassador Mohammed El-Amine Souef; AUSSOM Force Commander Lt Gen Sam Kavuma; Uganda’s Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Sam Okiding; permanent secretaries; and representatives from IGAD, the UK, USA, EU, and the UN.
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