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AUSSOM Nations Call for Gradual Withdrawal and Sustained Support to Somali Forces

AUSSOM countries advocate phased exit and ongoing backing to Somali security amid US UNSOS funding halt, aiming for full local security control in two years.

By John Mtongoi Newsroom August 1, 2026 2 min read
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) with Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the plenary session of Heads of State and Government at the.
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) with Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the plenary session of Heads of State and Government at the.

Troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have called for a carefully coordinated, phased withdrawal of their forces, paired with continued international support to Somali security agencies during the transition period.

The call came at an extraordinary summit in Kampala, Uganda, which lasted three days and concluded on Friday. The meeting was prompted by the recent US decision to cease funding the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), a development experts warn could severely impact the mission's operational capacity.

Key Outcomes of the Kampala Summit

  • The summit emphasized a phased exit strategy for AUSSOM over 18 to 24 months, ensuring uninterrupted support to enable Somalia to meet security milestones.
  • Participants urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to maintain integrated mission support during this period.
  • The Somali government was encouraged to strengthen ties with Federal Member States and traditional elders to enhance the fight against Al-Shabaab.
  • There was a strong emphasis on building a professional, nationally representative Somali army capable of securing the country independently.
  • A joint diplomatic task force was established to mobilize funding, alongside calls for improved military assets, including air support and intelligence sharing.
  • Regional and international partnerships were deemed crucial to the success of the security transition.

Context and Next Steps

The summit followed meetings of Chiefs of Defence Forces and Defence Ministers, culminating in a communique that praised the sacrifices of soldiers combating terrorism in Somalia. Leaders reaffirmed commitments from a prior summit in April 2025, including a comprehensive plan to degrade Al-Shabaab and to support recruitment of Community/Local Defence Forces (LDFs) to secure liberated regions.

Somalia's security forces are expected to take full responsibility for the nation's security within two years, a goal contingent on sustained international backing despite the US funding withdrawal.

The Chiefs of Defence Forces are scheduled to convene in Mogadishu on August 5 to further coordinate implementation of these strategies.

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