WASHINGTON (SD) – The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has warned about the rising costs of the war against Al-Shabab, stating that progress in the conflict has been slow.

A statement from the committee highlighted that while the U.S. has spent significant financial resources, the expected progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab has not been achieved.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 states that funding should not be allocated to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The committee warned that this could force the U.S. to continue providing long-term financial support, which would burden American taxpayers.

The statement further suggested that the European Union should collaborate with former President Donald Trump to find a sustainable funding solution for the mission. The committee also urged the African Union and the United Nations to focus on implementing necessary reforms in peacekeeping support and counterterrorism efforts against Al-Shabaab.

The U.S. government remains deeply concerned about the increasing financial burden of the war on Al-Shabaab and is calling on the international community to share the responsibility of funding peacekeeping efforts in Somalia.