U.S. to Stop UN support for anti-Al-Shabaab mission in Somalia
U.S. to Stop UN support for anti-Al-Shabaab mission in Somalia
In a major setback to the East African region’s fight against terrorism, the U.S. has announced it will stop supporting United Nations assistance for the peacekeeping mission battling Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
According to diplomatic documents reviewed by Reuters, the U.S. informed the African Union that it will not back the UN’s Support Office in Somalia beyond the end of 2026.
The office provides critical logistical support to the multinational support mission officers fighting against the Al-Shabaab militia, including food, fuel, water, medical services, and transportation.
While the U.S. would not oppose the UN Security Council’s renewal of the mission’s mandate, it said it will not reject any extension that includes continued UN logistical or operational support for the mission.
The decision leaves nearly 12,000 personnel operating under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) uncertain, as they rely heavily on UN-backed logistics to fight militia groups.
The latest development marks a significant shift in the U.S. government’s approach under President Donald Trump, whose administration has expressed frustration with Somalia’s leadership.
Trump’s administration has, in recent months, cited persistent internal divisions and limited progress in defeating Al-Shabaab despite years of international assistance.
In a statement to Reuters, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said the U.S. has contributed nearly Ksh260 billion to the mission but argued that Somalia has failed to build sustainable security institutions.
“We should not continue to fund a mission that has not met core objectives and diverts resources away from security priorities with more immediate and direct implications for U.S. interests,” the spokesperson said.
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The AU has already warned member states that the U.S. decision carries significant implications for the mission’s operational capability, logistical sustainment and financing.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the organisation was aware of the U.S. decision but revealed discussions are ongoing to determine the next steps.
Kenya has been one of the largest troop-contributing countries to African Union missions in Somalia since deploying forces under Operation Linda Nchi in 2011, before integrating them into AMISOM.
Kenyan troops continue to serve under the AMISOM, which was changed from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), alongside forces from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda.
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