AU Holds Emergency Meeting on Somalia Mission Funding Cut

The African Union (AU) convened an emergency meeting on July 1, 2023, regarding its military mission in Somalia following the announcement from Washington to end funding. The U.S. has provided nearly $2 billion to the UN mission in Somalia since 2007, which supports the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali army, comprising approximately 12,000 troops.

The funding cut is attributed to the Somali government's failure to demonstrate progress against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, which has controlled significant areas of the country for nearly two decades. The AU's decision to convene this meeting reflects the urgency of the situation, as the lack of U.S. logistical support could jeopardize the mission's future.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has faced criticism for internal political rivalries and a lack of security sector reform, which have contributed to the ongoing instability in Somalia, including violent clashes in the capital, Mogadishu.