Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has called on regional military leaders to unite, innovate, and demonstrate unwavering resolve to safeguard peacekeeping operations in Somalia as the mission faces shrinking international funding and a changing diplomatic landscape.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the Extraordinary Meeting of Chiefs of Defence Forces from Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Gen. Kainerugaba warned that tightening financial constraints are already undermining frontline operations.
“These are difficult circumstances, but they also call for our unity, creativity, and resolve,” Gen. Kainerugaba told regional military chiefs. “The future of our mission, and the sacrifice and progress we have all made together in Somalia, depend on the quality of the decisions we make at moments like this.”
The high-level military gathering comes at a critical juncture as the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) prepares to wrap up its logistical operations by December 31, 2026. The shift presents a pivotal window for African troop contributors to fast-track self-sustaining, African-led logistical frameworks.
Gen. Kainerugaba revealed that UNSOS has already slashed its financial and operational support to AUSSOM and the United Nations Guard Unit by 25 percent. The reductions have forced frontline commanders to adjust operational priorities, threatening the gains made against the Al-Shabaab insurgency over the last two decades.
Adding to the mission’s uncertainty, the Ugandan army chief highlighted shifting international diplomatic dynamics, noting indications that the United States will not support renewing AUSSOM’s United Nations Security Council mandate if it remains tied to the existing UN support framework.
Against this backdrop, Gen. Kainerugaba emphasized that African nations must shoulder full responsibility to fund and sustain peacebuilding efforts beyond December 2026.
“As Chiefs of Defence Forces, we are responsible for providing clear military guidance and strategic direction at a time when the mission environment is changing,” he stated, urging delegates to approach discussions with frankness and a shared purpose.
The military chiefs’ technical deliberations form the first leg of a crucial three-day regional summit held under the theme, “To Sustain the Stabilization Process in Somalia.” The outcomes will feed into a comprehensive strategic report to be presented to Defence Ministers on July 30, which will guide regional Heads of State during the 15th Extraordinary Summit on July 31.
The summit brings together military delegates, defense ministers, and heads of state from AUSSOM member countries, including Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Kenya, along with host nation Somalia. Uganda was the first nation to deploy troops to Somalia under the original African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2007.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, expressed deep gratitude to the peacekeeping forces for their long-standing sacrifices in stabilizing Somalia.
Echoing Gen. Kainerugaba’s stance, the Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Cheick Dembele, stressed that unbroken African solidarity remains vital as the African Union continues its commitment to build robust Somali security institutions capable of maintaining lasting peace.