United States blocks UN funding for Somalia AU peacekeeping mission

The United States has informed the African Union that it will oppose any United Nations expenditure supporting the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) beginning next year. Washington will block funding for the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which manages logistics such as food, water, fuel, medical services and troop transport and operates on a budget of about $500 million.

AUSSOM, a 12,000‑troop force that backs Somalia’s federal government against al‑Shabaab militants, ran on a $190 million budget last year and relies heavily on UN logistical support. The U.S., a major contributor to UNSOS with roughly $2 billion in assessed contributions, said the mission has not met core objectives and diverts resources from more immediate U.S. security priorities. The African Union warned that the decision could have “significant implications for the logistical sustainment, operational posture and financing” of the mission, raising concerns about its long‑term viability and the security situation in Somalia.