Thursday February 27, 2025

African defence and security officials pose for a group photo at the Somalia Operations Coordination Committee (SOCC) meeting, where ministers finalized the troop deployment plan for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on operationalizing the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM, ensuring continued security support in Somalia. CREDIT / AU

Mogadishu (HOL) — African defence ministers have approved a detailed deployment strategy for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), marking a critical phase in Somalia’s security transition. The meeting occured as Somalia nears the completion of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a mission designed to hand over security responsibilities to Somali forces after nearly two decades of African Union peacekeeping presence.

The two-day ministerial meeting of the Somalia Operations Coordination Committee (SOCC), which concluded Wednesday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, outlined the framework for deploying 11,900 personnel under AUSSOM. These forces—comprising military troops, police officers, and civilian support staff—will play a pivotal role in stabilizing Somalia, countering al-Shabaab, and supporting governance structures as ATMIS phases out by the end of 2024.

The ministers endorsed Somalia’s force deployment plan as the guiding structure for AUSSOM’s mission, emphasizing its importance in maintaining stability. A follow-up technical experts’ meeting will refine logistical strategies to ensure a seamless transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM.

The transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM represents the latest phase in the AU’s longstanding security engagement in Somalia. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was established in 2007 with a mandate to stabilize Somalia, protect the transitional government, and counter the militant group al-Shabaab. Over the years, AMISOM expanded operations, peaking at over 22,000 troops in 2017, and played a key role in securing major cities, including Mogadishu and Kismayo.

AMISOM’s reconfiguration into ATMIS in 2022 signified a gradual shift toward Somali-led security. ATMIS, with an initial force of 19,600 personnel, began a phased drawdown in 2023. Somali security forces, supported by international partners, have since taken on increasing responsibility, with the government requesting strategic pauses in ATMIS troop withdrawals to ensure operational stability.

The AU and UN approved AUSSOM as a follow-up mission beyond ATMIS’s 2024 end date. Unlike its predecessors, AUSSOM is designed to provide targeted stabilization, support Somali-led security operations, and prevent security vacuums.

AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Bankole Adeoye praised the commitment of troop- and police-contributing nations, recognizing their role in Somalia’s security. He reaffirmed the AU’s dedication to responsibly concluding ATMIS’s withdrawal while ensuring sufficient funding, personnel, and logistical support for AUSSOM’s long-term sustainability.

The Somali government has stressed the need for a coordinated transition, balancing AU support with the country’s growing security capacity. Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur spoke about Somalia’s progress in countering al-Shabaab but acknowledged the need for continued AU assistance in stabilizing newly liberated areas and reinforcing governance structures.

Mohammed El-Amine Souef, the AU special representative for Somalia, reiterated the AU’s solidarity with Somalia and its commitment to defeating al-Shabaab. Officials stressed that financial, operational, and security concerns must be addressed to ensure a smooth transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM without jeopardizing recent security gains.

While the transition to AUSSOM represents progress, Somalia still faces significant challenges. Al-Shabaab remains a persistent threat, particularly in rural areas where the group continues to conduct asymmetric attacks. ATMIS and Somali forces have made substantial territorial gains, but insurgents continue to exploit security gaps, making sustained AU support vital.

Funding remains another key issue. AMISOM and ATMIS were heavily reliant on donor funding, primarily from the European Union and the United Nations. Ensuring financial sustainability for AUSSOM will be crucial, with AU officials advocating for a hybrid funding model combining AU resources with international contributions.

Moreover, Somalia’s governance institutions are still developing. While AU missions have provided security, the long-term goal is for Somali-led forces to take over entirely. The Somali government has implemented security sector reforms, including biometric registration of soldiers and increased accountability mechanisms, to improve the effectiveness of its forces. However, these efforts must continue alongside AUSSOM’s deployment.

Key Developments and Turning Points in AU–Somalia Engagement

• 2007 – AU Mission Begins: The AU Peace and Security Council creates AMISOM in January, and the UN Security Council authorizes it in February 2007​. First Ugandan troops deploy in March, taking over security from withdrawing Ethiopian forces and securing the TFG in Mogadishu​
• 2011 – Battle of Mogadishu: After years of heavy fighting, AMISOM and Somali forces force al-Shabaab to retreat from Mogadishu in August 2011​. This marks the first major defeat for al-Shabaab and boosts the legitimacy of the Somali transitional government.
• 2012 – Political Transition: Under AMISOM’s watch, Somalia’s transitional period ends. A new Federal Government is formed in September 2012 with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, following adoption of a provisional constitution​. AMISOM is credited with providing the secure environment that allowed the “Roadmap” political process to succeed.
• 2014 – Mission Expansion: Ethiopian forces formally join AMISOM in 2014, and the AU mission’s authorized size grows to nearly 22,000 troops​. AMISOM launches Operation Indian Ocean, capturing coastal strongholds like Barawe from al-Shabaab. However, the insurgency pivots to guerilla tactics.
• 2016 – Elections and Beyond: AMISOM secures polling sites for Somalia’s indirect elections (late 2016), enabling a peaceful handover of power in February 2017. The UN Security Council in Resolution 2372 (2017) sets out a plan for AMISOM’s gradual drawdown and urges Somali forces to begin assuming greater responsibility​. Al-Shabaab attacks AU bases (El Adde 2016, Kulbiyow 2017) inflict serious AU troop losses, prompting calls for better equipment and force protection.
• 2018 – Somalia Transition Plan: Somalia, the AU, and UN endorse the STP, a comprehensive plan detailing the transfer of security from AMISOM to Somali forces in phases through 2021. The plan is aligned with a reconfiguration of AMISOM’s mandate toward mentoring and gradual exit. Donor fatigue is growing; the EU has trimmed its funding, and discussions begin on the future of the mission.
• 2021 – Reorientation Debate: As AMISOM’s mandate nears expiry, an AU assessment in 2021 proposes options (drawdown, reconfiguration, or a hybrid AU-UN mission). The Somali government rejects any plan formulated without its full input, insisting on the primacy of the Somali Transition Plan​. Eventually, the AU and Somalia agree to transition AMISOM into a new mission (ATMIS) with a clear end-date.
• April 2022 – ATMIS Launches: ATMIS takes over from AMISOM on April 1, 2022, with an initial strength of ~19,600 and a mandate to hand over security by December 2024​. Somali forces and ATMIS conduct joint offensives in mid-2022, and by early 2023 Somalia claims significant victories in central regions with clan militia support. Tensions flare in April 2022 between Somalia’s PM and the AU envoy (Madeira expulsion incident), but are resolved with diplomatic replacement​
• 2023 – Offensive and Drawdown: President Hassan Sheikh (re-elected in May 2022) launches a major national offensive against al-Shabaab in 2023, backed by frontline states (Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti) and ATMIS support​. In June 2023, ATMIS completes a first drawdown of 2,000 troops. Facing stiff insurgent resistance, Somalia requests a 3-month pause on further ATMIS troop withdrawals in September 2023​. The pause is granted, averting a potential security vacuum as Somali forces regroup.
• December 2024 – AUSSOM Approved: The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2767 (2024) endorsing the establishment of AUSSOM to replace ATMIS on Jan 1, 2025​. The resolution notes Somalia’s progress in taking over from 7,000 drawn-down ATMIS troops since 2022 and authorizes up to 12,626 AU personnel under the new mission​. AUSSOM’s concept emphasizes supporting Somali-led operations and stabilization of recovered areas, with a “hybrid” funding model to ensure sustainability​
• January 2025 – Transition to AUSSOM: AUSSOM officially begins operations. All remaining ATMIS contingents realign under AUSSOM, which focuses on mentoring, quick reaction support, and holding ground jointly with Somalis. This marks the next chapter of AU involvement, aimed at solidifying Somalia’s security gains as the country prepares for a future without a large foreign force. Somali officials herald the new mission as a sign that Somalia is nearing full security responsibility, even as they caution that continued partnership is needed to finally defeat al-Shabaab.