Uganda Hosts AUSSOM Summit as Somalia Faces Funding Crisis

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hosted a high-level summit of troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Kampala on July 31, 2026. The gathering, which included leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Egypt, and Burundi, focused on transitioning security responsibilities to the Somali National Armed Forces and maintaining pressure on Al-Shabaab.

The mission faces a critical funding gap after the United States announced it would not support AUSSOM beyond December 2026. Additionally, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia is scheduled to conclude operations by the end of the year. Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba urged participating nations to accelerate African-led security alternatives to prevent a vacuum.

Political tensions emerged during the summit when Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested the removal of references to political consensus from the final communiqué, labeling it a domestic issue. However, summit participants insisted that political reconciliation is a pillar of national security. This friction coincides with pressure from the United States and United Kingdom, which have threatened to withhold World Bank budget support unless the Mohamud administration resolves electoral gridlock by August 2026.