Somalia Defense Minister claims army can resist Al-Shabaab without AUSSOM

Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi stated that national forces are capable of resisting Al-Shabaab even if the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) withdraws. Speaking in Mogadishu, Fiqi asserted that “Al-Shabaab cannot capture even a single village if AUSSOM leaves Somalia,” noting that government forces and the Somali public are working jointly to confront the militant group.

The minister also criticized unnamed politicians for describing Somalia as a collapsing state to the international community, arguing that such rhetoric undermines public confidence and ignores military progress.

These comments arrive amid uncertainty regarding the future of AUSSOM and the United Nations logistical support it relies on for food, fuel, and medical services. While the United States recently agreed to allow the UN to extend its support for another year to facilitate a wind-down, the long-term funding mechanism to replace this assistance remains unconfirmed.