MOGADISHU – The European Union has announced €75 million (about US$81 million) in new funding for the African Union mission in Somalia, extending support into 2026. The funding will go toward troop allowances and non-lethal equipment for operations targeting Al-Shabaab, which remains active in parts of the country.
The mission is part of long-running international efforts to stabilize Somalia, where local and AU-backed forces continue to battle the militant group. EU officials said the latest package is intended to sustain operational capacity as responsibility gradually shifts toward Somali security institutions.
EU envoy to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, urged greater international burden-sharing in supporting the mission’s costs. She also reaffirmed the bloc’s backing for Somali-led security operations as part of broader stabilization efforts in the Horn of Africa nation.
The African Union mission in Somalia has been a key security presence in the country for more than a decade, helping Somali forces reclaim territory from Al-Shabaab and maintain control in major urban areas. Despite these gains, the group continues to carry out deadly attacks, including bombings and targeted assaults on government and security installations.
Somalia has been working to gradually take over full responsibility for its own security as international forces draw down support. However, officials and partners say the transition remains fragile, with concerns that premature reductions in funding or troop support could allow militant groups to regain ground.
