President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday assured Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that Uganda would continue to support Somalia, despite the growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the African peace mission, which is set to lose United Nations logistical support.
Museveni gave the assurance during bilateral talks at State House, Entebbe, ahead of an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State from troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), where leaders are seeking a common strategy to keep the mission running after the current UN support framework expires at the end of 2026.
The summit comes at a critical moment for Somalia and the Horn of Africa. The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which has provided logistical support to African peacekeepers for years, is due to end its mandate on December 31, 2026, leaving AUSSOM without its traditional support mechanism unless a new financing arrangement is agreed.
With Al-Shabaab still capable of carrying out attacks despite losing territory to Somali and African Union forces, regional leaders fear that any disruption to the mission could jeopardise security gains achieved over nearly two decades.
During their meeting, Museveni and Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on regional security, governance and state-building, describing peace in Somalia as essential to stability across the Horn of Africa and the wider East African region.
The Somali President thanked Uganda for its steadfast military support since the deployment of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in 2007, saying the contribution had been instrumental in stabilising Somalia. “We are grateful for the security support that Uganda has continued to extend to Somalia. We are in a much better position today than we were before, although challenges remain,” President Mohamud said.
He also briefed Museveni on Somalia’s political reforms, including efforts to restore universal suffrage after decades of indirect elections, saying the reforms would strengthen democratic governance and enable Somalis to determine their own future.
Museveni, whose country was the first to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia in 2007 and remains one of the largest troop contributors, reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to Somalia’s recovery. “For the last 19 years, we have stood with Somalia because we believe in supporting just causes and protecting innocent people. Our interest has always been to see Somalia become peaceful, stable and prosperous,” Museveni said.
Drawing on Uganda’s own experience, he said lasting peace could only be secured through strong national institutions, national unity and inclusive governance rather than sectarian politics.
The two leaders also stressed the need for greater cooperation among African countries in tackling regional security threats and advancing development across the Horn of Africa.
The bilateral talks were held as military chiefs from Uganda, Somalia, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya concluded two days of deliberations in Kampala on the future of AUSSOM.
Opening the meeting earlier this week, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urged African militaries to prepare for a new phase of the mission by embracing African-led solutions. “These are difficult circumstances, but they also call for our unity, creativity and resolve,” Gen. Kainerugaba said. “The future of our mission, and the sacrifice and progress we have all made together in Somalia, depend on the quality of the decisions we make at moments like this.”
He warned that reductions in international support were already affecting operations and called on troop-contributing countries to urgently develop alternative logistical and financing arrangements before the UN support framework ends.
Gen. Kainerugaba also cited shifting international diplomacy, including indications that the United States may not back renewal of the mission under the current UN support arrangement, as another reason for Africa to assume greater responsibility for sustaining peace operations. His call was re-echoed by the Head of the African Union’s Peace Support Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Cheick Dembele, saying continued collective support would be essential as Somalia strengthens its own security institutions. “It is therefore important that we approach these discussions with frankness, openness and a shared sense of purpose,” Gen. Kainerugaba said.
On Friday morning, Mr Museveni chaired a closed consultative session of Heads of State and Government at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where leaders from the troop-contributing countries considered recommendations from defence chiefs and ministers on the future of AUSSOM.
The meeting also brought together senior officials from the African Union, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), including African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Held under the themeTo Sustain the Stabilisation Process in Somalia,the summit is expected to adopt a common African position on the future of the mission, including proposals for predictable financing, improved coordination among troop-contributing countries and continued support for Somalia’s security transition.
