The United Kingdom has announced over $30 million (£22.5 million) in funding to support Somalia’s security transition. This includes $8 million (£6 million) to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to provide essential non-lethal support to Somali forces, and $22 million (£16.5 million) to the African Union Support to Somalia (AUSSOM) to sustain AU-led security operations. The commitment highlights the UK’s enduring role as a reliable partner in promoting stability in Somalia and the wider region.
The funding to UNSOS will ensure Somali Security Forces continue to receive logistical support such as food rations, tents, medical supplies, and casualty evacuation, enabling them to conduct joint or coordinated operations with AUSSOM. UNSOS currently supports approximately 18,900 Somali National Army and Police personnel, and this latest contribution brings the UK’s total support to UNSOS to over $58 million (£46 million) since 2021.
The UK’s $22 million contribution to AUSSOM reinforces Somalia’s transition toward Somali-led security arrangements. AUSSOM is central to supporting Somali and AU partners in addressing threats from al-Shabaab, stabilizing recovered areas, and reducing drivers of regional insecurity. The UK, together with the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union, and the United Nations, co-hosted an AUSSOM Donor Conference during the UN General Assembly, demonstrating the international community’s focus on Somalia’s security.
Since 2021, the UK has contributed nearly $140 million (£102.5 million) to AUSSOM and its predecessor missions, reflecting its long-term commitment to multilateral efforts for Somalia’s security. Baroness Chapman, UK Minister for Development, emphasized that Somalia’s security is vital for regional stability and prosperity, and that this funding reinforces the UK’s investment in African-led peace efforts. She highlighted the importance of global partnerships in tackling shared security challenges and promoting a future in which communities thrive, trade flourishes, and terrorism is diminished.
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