Warning that current financial pressures may overwhelm contributing countries and endanger the mission’s future, experts have expressed serious concerns about the sustainability of the Somalia security mission. International partners supporting Somalia have urgently called for additional funding to maintain the Security Forces Trust Fund, raising questions about the continuation of the mission as its inaugural year concludes. On Monday, representatives from numerous nations including Kenya, UK, US, Sweden, Djibouti, Ethiopia, EU, Italy, Qatar, Türkiye, Uganda, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, France, Russia, Denmark, and Japan joined with Somalia’s federal government, AUSSOM, and UNSOS to warn that insufficient international funding could compromise the operations of Somali security forces. The Security Forces Trust Fund serves as a crucial channel for providing essential support to Somali security forces according to national priorities. Through this mechanism, UNSOS assists Somali Security Forces during joint or coordinated operations with AUSSOM. Despite limited financial backing, UNSOS has managed to sustain basic operational requirements with monthly deliveries of 540 tonnes of food supplies, 180,000 liters of fuel, and continuous air medical services at a cost of approximately $1.2 million monthly. Full authorized support would cost $2.3 million monthly. Full mandated support includes provisions for rations, fuel, medical evacuations, transportation, communications, defense supplies, and Forward Operating Base equipment, increasingly sourced from Somali vendors to stimulate local economic growth and foster national ownership, as noted in their joint statement. This warning precedes the upcoming renewal of the mission’s mandate by the UN Security Council later this month. According to the Mission’s operational plan, the transition of AU troops from ATMIS to AUSSOM was initially slated for completion by June 2025. The AU Peace and Security Council postponed this timeline in July, extending the realignment process by six additional months. The AU Special Representative, El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, confirmed in a recent interview with Amani Africa Think Tank that the Mission is undergoing adjustments and that its exit strategy is being revised in collaboration with the UN and the Federal Government of Somalia. Without reliable funding, the African Union may need to reassess its planned withdrawal timeline, currently set for the end of 2029, as AUSSOM’s long-term viability depends on addressing the current funding gap, which continues to place excessive strain on the mission. This includes troops not receiving their allowances for eighteen consecutive months. During a September high-level meeting on financing for the AU stabilization mission in Somalia, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation as unsustainable. “Financing for the Mission is not merely a budgetary consideration,” he stated. “It represents our commitment to confronting the al-Shabaab terrorist threat, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid delivery, supporting Somali security forces during a critical transitional period, ensuring security for upcoming elections, and compensating troops and police promptly. Most importantly, it provides the necessary resources to fulfill the mandates of both the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council.” Experts caution that the existing financial pressures could strain contributing nations to their limits and potentially jeopardize the mission’s existence. As the AU Peace and Security Council examines this issue this week, analysts predict the council will appeal to both conventional and non-traditional partners to enhance financial contributions and address the substantial 2025 budget deficit, while also committing to predictable and sufficient multi-year funding to enable the Mission to effectively execute its responsibilities. Earlier initiatives, such as the July 3 AUPSC meeting, directed the AU Commission to collaborate with the UN and various bilateral and multilateral partners to organize a resource mobilization conference. Following this directive, a high-level meeting regarding AUSSOM financing took place in New York on September 25, coinciding with the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Nevertheless, the total pledged funding remains considerably short of the $196 million needed to cover troop allowances. Additional efforts are required to address the ongoing terrorist threat in Somalia. According to a recent UN assessment, while the Federal Government of Somalia has achieved some success in eliminating senior al-Shabaab leaders through recent operations, domestic political tensions have exacerbated security challenges, with the militant group significantly increasing territorial control in central Somalia. Meanwhile, the European Union is anticipated to announce the resumption of its contributions to the mission after a two-year suspension intended to promote equitable burden-sharing among international partners.