Somalia: A presidential roadmap amid warnings of collapsing UN support

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In his address at the opening of the new session of the Somali Federal Parliament, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud outlined the country’s next political stage, emphasizing the need to strengthen security and complete institutional reforms.

His speech came as the United Nations warned that the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia faces the risk of collapse due to a worsening salary and funding crisis, highlighting the scale of challenges Somalia must overcome in its quest for stability.

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The president reaffirmed his government’s commitment to completing the constitution and enhancing security, while also announcing the launch of major economic and development projects, including oil extraction for the first time in Somalia’s history.

He called for national dialogue, stressing that his government has chosen the path of consensus to resolve disputes, directly addressing Puntland and Jubaland states, which have boycotted recent National Consultative Council meetings.

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Mohamud emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust between the federal government and various stakeholders, describing national unity as the cornerstone of the upcoming stage.

On security, he highlighted the progress made by government forces in confronting the Al-Shabaab insurgency and regaining control of vast territories, affirming that military operations would continue alongside reconciliation efforts and the easing of political tensions.

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UN warning: Funding crisis threatens the African Union mission

In New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning during an international conference on Somalia, stating that the African Union mission, which has been fighting for more than 15 months without paying its troops, stands on the brink of collapse.

He called the situation “unacceptable and unsustainable,” warning that the crisis could erase the gains achieved if urgent action is not taken.

Guterres stressed that the mission plays a vital role in supporting Somali security forces and regaining territory from Al-Shabaab, but the funding shortage jeopardizes its future and risks enabling the insurgents to regain influence.

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Global concern without financial commitments

The conference, attended by representatives from the UN, the African Union, the Somali government, and donor countries including the United Kingdom, ended without concrete financial pledges.

Guterres described the outcome as a “dangerous delay” with potentially long-term consequences.

UN reports warned that without immediate financial support, a security vacuum could emerge in liberated areas, threatening fragile stability not only in Somalia but across the entire Horn of Africa.

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The African Union mission currently faces a funding shortfall of $96 million, inherited from the former ATMIS mission.

At an extraordinary meeting last April in Entebbe, Uganda, troop-contributing countries urged swift implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), which authorizes UN contributions to finance African peacekeeping missions.

The resolution allows up to 75% of the mission’s budget to be covered by UN contributions, potentially providing an urgent solution to avert the collapse of the African Union’s mission in Somalia.

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