Mogadishu, Somalia (Banaadir24) — The African Union (AU) is in the final stages of negotiating bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with troop-contributing countries to solidify support for its newly launched peacekeeping mission in Somalia—AUSSOM—amid mounting security concerns across the Horn of Africa.
Officials confirmed this week that the AU Peace and Security Council, working closely with legal and political departments in Addis Ababa, has accelerated talks with countries including Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti, all of which are expected to continue contributing personnel under the AUSSOM framework.
> “These MOUs are critical to ensuring AUSSOM is not just a rebranded mandate but a fully empowered and coordinated mission,” said an AU official familiar with the process.
*Stabilizing a Fragile Transition*
The urgency comes as Al-Shabaab insurgents continue to exploit recent troop withdrawals, including the capture of Hawadley earlier this week. With ATMIS officially replaced by AUSSOM in January, the AU has been working to re-establish operational clarity and funding channels under the new mission structure.
Unlike ATMIS, which operated under a multilateral mandate with pooled donor funding, AUSSOM relies on direct bilateral arrangements for many aspects of its deployment—making the MOUs essential for coordinating logistics, air support, medevac capabilities, and rules of engagement.
A senior official from Uganda’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that talks were “ongoing and constructive,” adding that Kampala was reviewing its deployment commitments under the new framework.
*Pressure From Donors and Somali Government*
Somalia’s federal government has publicly supported AUSSOM, but in recent days has asked the AU to delay the next phase of troop drawdowns, scheduled for the end of June, warning of potential militant gains and a security vacuum.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States—key donors to past AU missions in Somalia—have been urging a clearer financial roadmap and coordination mechanism before disbursing additional support.
> “You cannot have boots on the ground without legal certainty,” said Dr. Muna Abshir, a Horn of Africa security analyst based in Nairobi. “The AU knows this and is working overtime to avoid operational gaps.”
*The Road Ahead*
If completed this week, the bilateral MOUs would provide the legal backbone for AUSSOM’s next phase—expected to include strategic deployments to Lower Shabelle, Hiiraan, and Galmudug, where federal forces have struggled to maintain consistent control.
With pressure mounting on both the AU and Somalia’s government to contain Al-Shabaab, the success or failure of these MOUs may determine the credibility of the mission—and the region’s fragile trajectory toward peace.
—
©️ Banaadir24, all rights reserved.
