Somali president attends Kampala summit as troop-contributing countries seek AUSSOM funding

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Kampala, Uganda, on Friday to attend an extraordinary summit of African Union (AU) troop-contributing countries aimed at securing funding for the new AU mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni received Mohamud, along with other visiting leaders and international partners, at State House ahead of the summit.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence from AUSSOM troop-contributing countries – Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda, held preliminary talks in Kampala on Thursday. Representatives from the AU, United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, and United States also attended.

The summit comes amid growing concerns over a funding shortfall for the planned AUSSOM deployment, which is expected to replace the outgoing AU peacekeeping mission (ATMIS). AU Commission Chairperson Mohamud Yusuf has warned of financial risks that could jeopardise operational continuity.

A joint communiqué addressing Somalia’s political and security situation is expected to be signed by heads of state and government attending the summit.

During the meeting on Thursday, Uganda’s Defence Minister Jacob Oboth expressed concern over a resurgence of Al-Shabaab attacks in southern Somalia. He described the threat as “renewed” and urged stronger coordination and military response, citing recent assaults on military bases in Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.

Somalia has hosted foreign troops for nearly two decades under successive AU missions. However, Al-Shabaab continues to control large areas of the country. Critics argue that the prolonged foreign presence has failed to deliver lasting peace and have called for Somalia to take greater ownership of its national security.