US Senator rejects UN funding for Somalia’s AU mission, urges EU to work with Trump for a sustainable solution.
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has strongly opposed using United Nations (UN) assessed contributions to finance the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The mission, which replaced ATMIS, is tasked with countering the Al-Shabaab jihadist threat.
Risch warned that using UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023) to fund AUSSOM would trap the US in endless financial commitments. He called on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with President Trump to establish a “real funding solution,” instead of relying on UN contributions that would burden American taxpayers.
“The U.S. has spent too much for too little progress against Al-Shabaab in Somalia,” Risch stated, criticizing prolonged US financial involvement without tangible results.
The EU has advocated for shared funding, while African Union (AU) and UN leaders stress the need for long-term financial support. Kenya’s President William Ruto and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have also called on the international community to explore all funding options, including UN Resolution 2719.
With AU forces gradually withdrawing and Somali troops expected to take full security control, the funding dispute underscores broader geopolitical tensions over Somalia’s stability and counterterrorism efforts.
