MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United Nations and the United Kingdom have discussed continued support for Somalia’s security forces during a meeting in Mogadishu between the acting head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai, and British Ambassador Charles King.
The talks focused on the Somali Security Forces (SSF) Trust Fund, the planned drawdown of UN operations and coordination with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), according to information released about the meeting.
Sadozai acknowledged Britain’s contributions to the trust fund, which finances non-lethal logistical assistance to Somali security personnel, including food, fuel, transportation, communications equipment and medical evacuations.
The meeting comes as Somalia and its international partners face growing questions over the long-term financing and logistical arrangements needed to sustain security operations against al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group.
In September 2025, Britain announced an additional £6 million ($8 million) for the trust fund administered by UNSOS. The funding was intended to help provide logistical support to 18,900 Somali security personnel, including food rations, fuel and casualty evacuations.
British officials have continued to engage with UNSOS on the delivery of security assistance. In April 2026, a UK delegation visited the UN office in Mogadishu to assess its operations and logistical support for AUSSOM and Somali forces.
UN support faces transition challenges
The latest discussions come amid uncertainty over the future of international support for AUSSOM, which relies on UN logistical services for essential supplies, medical assistance and troop transportation.
In September, Reuters reported that the United States had agreed to allow a 12-month drawdown of UN support for the African Union mission beginning in January 2027, following Washington’s decision to stop funding UNSOS. The development raised concerns about the need to secure alternative financing and logistical arrangements.
The UN Security Council, through Resolution 2809 adopted in December 2025, extended AUSSOM’s mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, and authorized continued UN logistical support for the mission and eligible Somali security personnel.
UNSOS provides non-lethal logistical assistance to Somali National Army and police personnel engaged in joint or coordinated operations with AUSSOM. The support is intended to help Somali forces gradually assume greater responsibility for national security.
Somalia continues to face security challenges from al-Shabaab, which carries out attacks against government institutions, security forces and civilians.
The UN, African Union and international partners have supported Somali security operations for years, while efforts continue to strengthen national security institutions and establish sustainable arrangements for the country’s security transition.
