المركز الأفريقي للاستشارات African Center for Consultancy

The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) until 2026, as part of international efforts to support stability and assist Somali forces in addressing security challenges.
The mission is deployed in Somalia—one of the Horn of Africa’s most fragile countries—to support local security forces and counter threats posed by Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
According to Agence France-Presse, AUSSOM replaced a “transitional” mission that began operating in January and itself followed an African Union force first launched in 2007.
Despite gains made by Somali forces and the mission in 2022 and 2023 that weakened Al-Shabaab’s influence, the group has intensified its attacks since last year, targeting official sites and figures.
In March, the group claimed responsibility for an attack that nearly hit the convoy of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and in April it shelled Mogadishu airport with several mortars.
In August, the Somali National Army, with support from the African Union mission, regained control of the strategic town of Bariire, which hosts a military base and lies about 100 kilometers west of Mogadishu.
The UN resolution maintains the mission’s troop ceiling at 11,826 uniformed personnel, including 680 police officers, while expressing concern over what it described as a “chronic and persistent” funding shortfall.
Fourteen members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States abstained.