MOGADISHU (SD) – The African Union Transition and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) will officially launch its operations on 1 July 2025, fully taking over security responsibilities from the ATMIS mission.

AUSSOM was established on 1 January 2025 with approval from the UN Security Council. The mission is authorized to deploy up to 12,000 personnel, including military troops and 680 police officers.

The plan is to gradually reduce this number by the end of 2025. However, AUSSOM is facing financial challenges, requiring $90.4 million for operations between January and June 2025 but having secured only $16.7 million—leaving a $73.7 million shortfall.

To ensure stable funding, the United Nations has approved a hybrid financing arrangement, allowing up to 75% of AUSSOM’s annual budget to be covered by UN-assessed contributions starting 1 July 2025.

Recent Military Successes Ahead of AUSSOM’s Launch include AUSSOM forces and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) recapturing strategic towns previously controlled by Al-Shabaab.

A three-day joint operation in June, codenamed “Silent Storm”, liberated the towns of Anole and Sabiid.

AUSSOM stated that the goal of the operation was to “free areas held by terrorist groups.”

Brigadier General Joseph Ssemwanga, commander of the First Sector, noted that Sabiid and Anole had been key Al-Shabaab strongholds since March, where the group planned attacks, stored explosives, and set up illegal checkpoints.