African leaders have pledged to sustain military and political support for Somalia’s stabilisation efforts despite uncertainty over international funding, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declaring that the continent has both the responsibility and the capacity to secure its own future.
Speaking at an extraordinary summit of troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Kampala on Friday, Museveni said Africa would not abandon Somalia even if some Western partners reduced or withdrew their support.
“If those Western countries want to pull out, that is their decision. Somalia is not going to be abandoned because of some people outside. We have the capacity. Whether others pull out or not, we shall manage,” he told regional leaders.
The three-day summit brought together leaders and senior officials from Somalia, Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia and Kenya, alongside representatives of the African Union (AU), the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as they reviewed Somalia’s security situation and the future of the AU-led peace support mission.
Museveni defended Uganda’s long-standing military deployment in Somalia, saying the decision had been driven by principle rather than geography.
“Uganda doesn’t have a border with Somalia. Therefore, we decided to involve ourselves in Somalia out of principle and strategy,” he said, arguing that extremist groups posed a broader regional threat that required a collective African response.
He also called for greater African solidarity, saying the continent had a history of overcoming security challenges through regional cooperation rather than external intervention.
The summit comes at a critical time for Somalia, where government forces, backed by African troops, continue to battle the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab while gradually assuming greater responsibility for national security as international missions transition.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, participating heads of state praised troop-contributing countries for their sacrifices in Somalia and paid tribute to soldiers killed or wounded during peace operations.
The leaders also agreed to establish a joint diplomatic task force to secure predictable and sustainable financing for AUSSOM, including organising an international donors’ conference to mobilise political and financial support during the mission’s transition period.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that gains made in Somalia over the past decade must not be reversed, stressing that continued political commitment and reliable funding were essential to preserving peace in the Horn of Africa.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked Uganda for its long-standing contribution to his country’s security, describing Kampala as one of Somalia’s strongest partners.
“Uganda has stood as one of Somalia’s strongest pillars. Its leadership and support are not taken for granted,” Mohamud said, while urging regional leaders to help mobilise additional resources for the mission.
The Kampala summit concluded with participating countries reaffirming their commitment to supporting Somalia’s security transition, strengthening Somali institutions and maintaining regional cooperation to prevent a resurgence of militant violence.
