African Union Holds Emergency Meeting After U.S. Funding Cut for Somalia Mission

The African Union called an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the future of its military mission in Somalia after Washington announced it would end funding for the operation at the end of the year. The decision affects the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, which fields roughly 12,000 troops and relies on the UN Support Office in Somalia for logistics and pay.

A letter dated July 1 from Washington stated that payments to the office would stop and that the United States would oppose any further UN logistical support at the Security Council.

Background on the Mission Somalia has faced an Al-Shabaab insurgency for about two decades. The mission has provided the main external support to Somali government forces, while the United States has contributed nearly $2 billion to UN missions in Somalia since 2007 and more than $1.6 billion for African troops.

" The diplomat said the force would have to end operations without the UN logistics previously funded by the United States.

Somalia is also dealing with a separate political dispute. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud extended his term by one year earlier in 2026 after the original term expired on May 15. Opposition parties and some regional governments rejected the change, leading to clashes in parts of the country including the capital.

The letter from Washington cited the Somali government's failure to sustain progress against Al-Shabaab, assume responsibility for security, or carry out security sector reform. No immediate comment was available from the African Union or the Somali government.