Wednesday December 24, 2025
New York (HOL) – The United Nations Security Council has unanimously renewed the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for another year, extending it until December 31, 2026.
The resolution, submitted by the United Kingdom, was adopted during the Council’s meeting on Tuesday, with all 15 members voting in favor.
Speaking after the vote, the UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Archie Young, welcomed the resolution, describing AUSSOM’s role as “essential” to strengthening stability and security in Somalia.
“The resolution we have adopted today is clear-eyed about the challenges posed by the underfunding of AUSSOM and the liquidity shortfall facing the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS),” Young said. He added that the mandate establishes a process to enable an informed review of the logistical support provided by the United Nations.
Young also stressed that continued Security Council decision-making must be guided by a comprehensive understanding of Somalia’s national context to ensure international support remains targeted and effective.
AUSSOM officially began operations on January 1, 2025, replacing the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), as part of Somalia’s ongoing security transition. The mission supports joint operations with Somali security forces against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group but has faced significant funding challenges despite UN authorization.
Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years and continues to carry out frequent attacks targeting security forces, government officials, and civilians.