Saturday July 5, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The African Union has extended the presence
of Burundian troops in Somalia for an additional six months, aiming to
reinforce ongoing efforts against the militant group al-Shabaab and support
state-building initiatives.
The decision was made Thursday during a virtual meeting of
line ministers from member states of the African Union Peace and Security
Council (AUPSC), the AU’s main body for handling peace and security matters on
the continent.
Burundi’s forces, originally set to withdraw by June 30,
2025, will now remain temporarily under the African Union Support and
Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Their continued presence is expected
to bolster security operations and provide critical stability as Somalia
transitions toward full national control of its defense and governance
institutions.
The extension follows ongoing disagreements among AUSSOM
troop-contributing countries over the pace and structure of deployments since
the mission officially replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia
(ATMIS) on Jan. 1, 2025. Officials hope the additional six months will allow
other contributing countries to finalize their preparations.
During the session, Somali State Minister for Foreign
Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar called for the urgent organization of an AUSSOM
Financing Conference. He proposed that a Gulf nation could host the event to
help establish sustainable funding mechanisms and improve financial
transparency within the mission.
“We are urging all AU member states to contribute more
meaningfully through the AU Peace Fund,” Omar said. “African leadership and
accountability are essential to attracting global support and ensuring AUSSOM’s
long-term success.”
Despite AUSSOM’s significance, the United Nations is still
seeking $41.6 million in extra-budgetary funding to maintain the mission, which
continues to face persistent threats from al-Shabaab and a fragile political
climate in Somalia.
The mission’s original annual budget was projected at $190.2
million. However, a decision to maintain the troop reimbursement rate at $828
per soldier per month—rather than increase it to $1,000—lowered the revised
budget to $166.5 million.
Burundi has been a key troop contributor to African Union
peacekeeping operations in Somalia for nearly two decades. The recent extension
underscores the ongoing challenges in transitioning security responsibilities
to Somali forces while sustaining regional and international support.