The new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has called on the international community to increase funding for stabilisation efforts in Somalia.
The AU Chairperson has expressed concern over the funding shortfall of the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia, calling for a renewed international commitment to ensure peace and security in the country.
“I have already started discussions in Addis Ababa with some of our partners to ensure that Somalia is not neglected. Somalia remains at the centre of international interest,” Youssouf said.
Recently, in a joint press conference with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, he reiterated his commitment to working with international partners, noting the need for continued support to strengthen the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab. He also stressed that the AU peacekeeping mission is at a critical juncture.
“I want to emphasize here that these challenges can be solved. But we need commitment, we need commitment, and we need the support of the international community,” he said.
Youssouf also noted the role of the international community in combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Somali Sea.
