Addis Abeba– The United Nations Security Council is set to vote today on a draft resolution to establish the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) as the successor to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose mandate expires on 31 December, 2024.
The draft resolution, spearheaded by the United Kingdom, authorizes the deployment of up to 12,626 uniformed personnel, including 1,040 police officers, for 12 months starting 1 January, 2025, with the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM to be completed by 30 June, 2025.
Somalia and Ethiopia are expected to participate in today’s meeting under Rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.
The draft endorses a “hybrid” financing model under resolution 2719, covering 75 percent of costs through UN contributions, with the remainder mobilized by the AU and UN.
Debate over the model has been divisive. European Union members and the “A3 plus” group support immediate implementation, while the US favors a delay, proposing a two-year bridging mechanism. A joint AU-UN report submitted in November highlighted the urgency of a sustainable financing framework to avoid a security vacuum, noting Somalia as a critical test case.
“The immediate implementation of resolution 2719 is crucial to avoid institutionalizing funding deficits,” AU Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized in a December letter.
If adopted, the resolution will require the Secretary-General to implement the hybrid financing model by July 2025, contingent on Council confirmation in May.
The Security Council previously voted to phase out the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) over the next two years, transferring its responsibilities to the UN Country Team (UNCT) starting November 1, 2024. A new entity, the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), will oversee the handover of responsibilities from UNSOM to Somali institutions and the UNCT.
Ethiopia and current Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) have previously expressed their “willingness and readiness” to continue their peacekeeping role in Somalia under the new mission. AS
