The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), a peacekeeping force operating in Somalia, has urgently requested 8,000 additional troops, an increase in air assets, and enhanced intelligence capabilities to counter the ongoing Al-Shabaab offensives.
The request was made public on Friday during a ministerial meeting of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC) in Entebbe, Uganda, attended by key figures such as African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and the Chief of Defense Forces of the Troop Contributing Countries and Somalia.
Dr. Workneh highlighted that the peacekeeping mission is currently facing significant challenges that need immediate attention. These concerns were discussed during the Permanent Secretaries and Senior Officials’ Meeting of TCC and Somalia, which concluded on 23rd April 2025.
“These recommendations identify critical priorities, including the urgent need to increase AUSSOM troop strength by at least 8,000 personnel, deploy additional bilateral forces, enhance air assets and intelligence capabilities, and strengthen coordination between Somalia’s federal government, member states, and traditional leaders,” said Dr. Workneh.
AUSSOM, which includes troops from various African Union member states, has Uganda as the largest troop contributor, followed by Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. The recommendations also stress the need for proper training of Somalia’s security forces, the recruitment of local defense forces to secure liberated areas, and the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms to address operational shortfalls.
Dr. Workneh emphasized that these challenges must be resolved for the troops to succeed in their mission. “For our troops to accomplish this mission, it’s imperative to address these fundamental challenges. And this brings me to what IGAD proposes not as abstract policy but as practical solutions born from the ground truths in Somalia,” he added.
The urgent call for additional resources underscores the critical need to enhance AUSSOM’s capacity to combat Al-Shabaab and stabilize Somalia.
