The African Union has endorsed the creation of a new force, African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom), to replace the existing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis). Aussom aims to protect Somalia from al-Shabaab attacks, with troop deployment expected to begin in January 2025. Troop contributors include Egypt, Uganda, and Djibouti, but other long-standing contributors like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Burundi are not mentioned. The PSC emphasized the need for a smooth transition from Atmis to Aussom, addressing funding challenges and ensuring operational effectiveness. Somalia’s cautious troop withdrawal due to security setbacks has prompted the UN to extend troop stay till August 12. Extensive consultations and funding commitments are underway to support Aussom. The transition to Aussom marks a significant development in enhancing regional security and stabilizing Somalia in the face of ongoing security threats.
Egypt joins new Somalia peacekeeping force.
