The United Nations Security Council has failed to adopt a funding resolution for the new African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia by its own deadline of May 15.
The delay casts serious doubt on the future of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), at a time when the country is facing a severe financial crisis and the security situation inside Somalia remains fragile.
The Security Council was expected to vote on a hybrid funding model to support AUSSOM, replacing the ATMIS operation. However, the United States has warned that this hybrid model, if implemented too quickly, could leave the United Nations shouldering more than 90% of the mission’s costs, exceeding the agreed financial limits.
The United States has proposed a two-year funding period for AUSSOM and a gradual resolution of AUSSOM’s budget constraints.
Meanwhile, the European Union and the so-called “A3 plus” countries (Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Guyana) have also warned that the delay in funding AUSSOM could seriously hamper efforts to stabilize Somalia.
HOL has corrected an earlier report that incorrectly stated that the Security Council was expected to vote this week on funding for the Somali peacekeeping mission AUSSOM. The new statement states that the May 15 deadline passed without a vote, casting doubt on the mission’s future.
